Usb Tokens - Qualified Signature Generation Provision
Qualified Signature Generation Provision or Secure Signature Creation Device, are USB TOKENS devices that provide the ability to generate and store digital certificates in a safe, protected area.
Below is the list of Qualified Signature Generation Provisions which have been verified to work correctly with the public key infrastructure of APED (Hellenic Public Administration Certification Authority - Certificate Issuance Process for Citizens). The list is indicative and identifies the Qualified Signature Generation Provisions that have been tested, i.e. digital certificates have been issued to and received by them.
USB token devices differ from the well-known memory sticks that store files, photos, etc. A USB token device has an integrated "cryptographic" chip, which stores the owner's private keys (recognized digital certificates) with the utmost security. However, a USB flash drive looks like a memory stick, and connects to a computer's (PC, laptop) USB port.
It meets all the requirements (technical, legal), and its use is mandatory based on international standards and legislation for recognized digital signatures that are legally recognized as equivalent to signatures on documents. A Qualified Signature Generation Provision must cover the Evaluation criteria defined in Appendix A of EETT decision 295-63 as published in Official Government Gazette 1730/24-11-2003.
