The personal Digital Certificate facilitates access to new e-government services that require user identity authentication, ensuring the integrity of message exchange and the confidentiality of communication. Personal digital certificates hold the same validity as handwritten signatures and are internationally recognized and valid, significantly contributing to the reduction of bureaucracy and the improvement of the security of electronic transactions.

E-government in an academic environment includes, among other services, the electronic submission of course grades, access to educational materials, access to international literature, receipt of certificates by students-graduates bearing a digital signature, data encryption, and achieving a reduction in administrative costs.

Every member of the University of West Attica can obtain one of the following certificates:

• Class A: certificates stored only in a Secure Signature Creation Device (SSCD) which is a cryptographic device with specific specifications (e.g., USB token) and used for access to systems such as the electronic secretariat of UNIWA or for the digital signing of documents according to the requirements imposed by PD 25/FEK 44/25-02-2014 regarding the use of electronic signatures in the Greek Public Sector. Certificates of this category cannot be copied to another medium.
• Class B: certificates stored on any medium, such as locally on a computer or on a USB stick, and used for services such as the digital signing of documents (where type A signature is not mandatory). Certificates of this category can be copied to another medium. They need to be installed on a PC to be used.

See all the steps in detail for obtaining a digital signature on the University’s page https://www.uniwa.gr/psifiaki-ypografi/.