Proof Receives NIST IAL2 Certification from Kantara Initiative

This press release was originally published on Business Wire.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - September 21, 2023 - Proof, the market leader for remote online notarization and digital signatures, today announced that Kantara Initiative has certified its Identity Assured eSignature service to be compliant with the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s (NIST) SP 800-63 rev.3 standard, at Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) for the highest level of trust. Kantara’s Trust Mark certifies that Proof adheres to the rigorous digital identity verification requirements set by NIST. 

This marks the first organization, approved by Kantara, that connects an electronic signature to an IAL2 identity all on one platform, with proof. Proof is the only platform that truly meets the regulatory requirements for those agreements which have stricter electronic signature standards. In certain states the DMV requires odometer disclosures to be signed with an IAL2 signature. The SBA requires all loan applications to be signed with IAL2-level identity verification. The DEA requires IAL2 verification to electronically prescribe controlled substances. IAL2 is rapidly becoming the new standard for both government and industry to ensure trust in their most critical agreements.

“Our vision at Kantara is to ensure all identity-based online transactions are secure, and signatures are no exception,” said Kay Chopard, executive director of Kantara Initiative. “Proof's solutions adhere to the most rigorous identity verification standards, reflecting their commitment to providing trustworthy signatures which will protect businesses and consumers.” 

When it comes to signatures on digital agreements, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what’s real and what’s fake. Proof is restoring trust in all signatures with industry-leading technology, validating government-issued IDs and confirming identity through AI-assisted biometric verification. If this process needs to be escalated to a human, Proof will instantly connect your customer with a trusted referee to have their identity verified with a notary face-to-face. Proof is the only platform with true on-demand trusted referees. Proof’s network of thousands of notaries are available 24/7, and connect in less than a second so customers never wait and can sign at their convenience. 

“When most people use their credit card, they feel safe knowing that there’s a layer of fraud prevention that will detect if their card ever gets stolen. Society needs to have the equivalent trust in everything that’s signed, approved or agreed to. Arguably more goods and services in our economy are exchanged this way and therefore it’s important for us to solve this emerging trust problem as more legal interactions go digital,” said Pat Kinsel, founder and CEO of Proof. “We’ve always been a company that prides ourselves in driving both the industry standard and innovation. Receiving NIST IAL2 certification is another step towards strengthening the integrity of the technology stack with fraud prevention tools that give people the certainty they need in their critical documents. We will continue to lead the industry standard for online notarization, and now we’re doing the same with electronic signatures and beyond.” 

Proof pioneered the category of remote online notarization with Notarize. The Notarize Network is the largest and most highly available network of professional notaries who perform notarizations 24/7 and on-demand. Now, Proof is taking this leadership even further, using the Notarize Network to verify identities that protect all electronic signatures.  

Travis Jarae, CEO of Liminal, a leading strategy and market intelligence firm focused on digital identity, cybersecurity, and fintech commented: "Digital identity is not just constrained to onboarding or checkout. Businesses need to protect all customer interactions, which includes the agreements they have customers sign. We’re thrilled to see Proof advance the standards around electronic signatures, just as they have done with online notarization.”

About Proof

Proof is the trusted platform for the most important agreements that businesses and consumers sign. More than 7,000 businesses, including some of the largest institutions in the U.S., trust Proof to collect all types of documents – everything from an online notarization to identity-assured eSignatures. The platform combines strong identity verification with built-in fraud prevention to ensure signatures are harder to forge. Proof operates the Notarize Network, the largest on-demand network of trusted notaries that are available 24/7 to perform a notarization or check a person’s identity.  For more information, visit: www.proof.com

About Kantara Assurance Program 

Kantara Initiative is a global community focused on improving the trustworthy use of identity and personal data. We have multiple working groups that explore innovation, standardization and develop good practice around the collection, storage and use of personal information and identity. Membership is global and we encourage participation from organizations across all sectors and geographies. We also run the world’s leading Identity Assurance programs. Our U.S. assessment program uniquely audits identity services and products for conformance against the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) 800-63 standards for privacy and security around Identity. In the UK, we are one of 5 organizations selected to certify Identity service providers against the government’s DIATF.