The personal Digital Certificate facilitates access to new e-government services that require user authentication, ensuring the integrity of message exchange and the confidentiality of communication. Personal digital certificates have the status of a handwritten signature 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 sending of course grades, access to educational materials, access to international bibliography, receipt of certificates from students-graduates bearing a digital signature, data encryption and achieves a reduction in administrative costs.

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

Class A: certificates that are stored only in a Secure Signature Creation Device (SCD), which is a cryptographic device with specific specifications (e.g. USB token) and are used to access systems such as the electronic secretariat of the University of Western Attica or for digitally signing documents in accordance with the requirements imposed by Presidential Decree 25/Government Gazette 44/25-02-2014 regarding the use of electronic signatures in the Greek State. Certificates in this category cannot be copied to another medium.

Class B: certificates that are stored in any medium such as locally on the computer or on a USB stick, and are used for services such as digitally signing documents (for which the use of a type A signature is not required). Certificates in this category can be copied to another medium. They must be installed on a PC in order to be used.

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