Electronic signature of an NDA (confidentiality agreement)

The NDA: essential before any sensitive exchange

The NDA: essential before any sensitive exchangeANDA(Non-Disclosure Agreement, confidentiality agreement) protects information shared during a commercial negotiation, due diligence, technical collaboration or provision of a sensitive service. It must be signedbefore

the exchange of information.

Gold on paper, an NDA takes 2-5 days to come back signed. In the meantime, either we share anyway (risk), or we wait (waste of commercial time). Electronic signature solves this friction.

Recommended levelAdvanced signature (AES) ⬥⬥⬥: the NDA being a document which will be mobilized in the event of a dispute, the proof of signature must be solid.

The SES may be sufficient for “light” NDAs between known partners, but the AES is the standard.

Content of a standard NDA

• identity of the parties (name, company name, representative)
• object and context (project
• exceptions (information already public, independent research)
• jurisdiction and penalty clauses
• Quick procedure
• Quick procedure
• Template your standard NDA (90% of NDAs are similar)

Fill in the variables (counterparty name, project, date)

1. Send in AES
2. Signed on average within 30-60 minutes
3. Start the sales discussion
4. Strategic benefits
5. Eliminate the "I'm sending you the NDA by email, sign this for me as soon as possible"

that hangs around for 5 days

• Secure the first exchangesfrom the first meeting
• Professional imagewith startups, funds, investors
• Traceability of negotiationsunder NDA (audit trail)
• Frequent errorsFrequent errors

Unilateral NDA when mutuality is required NDA

• Fuzzy or “perpetual” duration (not always enforceable)
• Omit exceptions (information in the public domain)
• Forget the competent jurisdiction
• Do not archive the signed NDA
• Use case: startup fundraising

A Series A startup discusses with 12 investment funds. Every discussion starts with an NDA. Without an electronic signature, it's 12 × 3-5 days of friction. With:

mutual NDA templates ready

• sent in AES from the first meeting
• signed on average within 2 hours
• data room opened immediately
• Savings: 4-6 weeks over the total duration of the fundraising.

How Certyneo helps you

Certyneo offers a ready-to-use mutual NDA template, AES signature by default, integration with CRMs (HubSpot, Pipedrive) to trace NDAs by commercial opportunity, long archiving.

Discover the Certyneo electronic signature solution

Discover the Certyneo electronic signature solution

FAQ

Does an NDA need to be notarized?

No, it is a private document.

Can the NDA be signed after exchanging information?

No, it must precede the exchange. Otherwise, it retrospectively covers the information communicated (clause to be provided explicitly).

Standard duration?

Often 2-5 years depending on sensitivity. The perpetual is rarely enforceable.

Bilingual NDA?

Yes, signable in the same envelope.

Conservation?

During the duration of the NDA + 5 years minimum.

Conclusion

Signing an NDA electronically in 30 minutes instead of 5 days is a major business accelerator. Complete, send, sign, speak.

Try Certyneo to send, sign and track your documents online simply, quickly and securely.