Audit trail
Definition
Frequently asked questions
What does an audit trail contain?
It traces each step of the signing journey: document sending, opening, viewing, signer authentication, signature or refusal. Each event is dated and associated with technical details such as email address, IP address and device type. The fingerprint of the signed document is also included.
What is the value of an audit trail before a judge?
It is not legal proof in the strict sense, but a piece of evidence that the judge assesses freely. Its value is to reconstruct the circumstances of the signature when it is disputed. It carries more weight when the signature is of simple or advanced level, since the reliability of the process must then be demonstrated.
What is the difference with a proof file?
The audit trail is the log of events. The proof file is a broader set, constituted at the time of signature, which brings together this log, the signed document, the certificates used and the timestamps. The audit trail is therefore one of its components: it is what tells the story, the rest attests to its technical strength.
How long must an audit trail be kept?
As long as the document it concerns can be disputed, which refers to limitation periods. In contractual matters, the common law period is five years, and certain retention obligations are longer, particularly ten years for accounting documents. The duration chosen must remain proportionate, since the trail contains personal data.
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