QSCD (Qualified Signature Creation Device)

A QSCD (Qualified Signature Creation Device) is a hardware or software device meeting the strict requirements of Annex II of eIDAS for creating qualified signatures (QES). It guarantees that the signing private key is generated within the device, never leaves it in plain text, and can only be used by its legitimate holder. Certified HSMs and smart cards are common forms of QSCD. Cloud signatures use virtual QSCDs hosted in certified HSMs.