Remote working has become a mainstream professional practice for the new normal, as entrepreneurs also take their business online. This connected environment has created demand for communication tools, sophisticated gadgets and innovative digital services, that can ensure safety of data being exchanged virtually.

Earlier this year, findings of a survey raised eyebrows by revealing that more than 95% professionals in the Emirates accept emails as a guarantee to finalise deals. But businesses won't have to worry about this attitude for long, since digital signatures in the country are now backed by global tech giant Xerox.

The brand has inked a pact with SigniFlow, which empowers remote work and online businesses, by enabling users to share and sign PDF documents online. These virtual signatures are protected by cryptographic algorithms, which make forgery almost impossible.

Xerox will combine its tech prowess with SigniFlow's services which integrate the Emirates' unique digital ID UAE PASS, along with a global authorisation system. Virtual agreements will also be secured by creation of documents based on tamper-evident tech, that can detect any attempt at unauthorised access.

Safety of legal documents or business-related communications has become a priority in the age of digitisation, when cybercrime is also rising at an unprecedented pace. Work-from-home may be gaining ground, but 70% professionals accepting social media messages as authorisation for digital dealings, is an alarming trend in this situation.

At a time when the Emirati administration is seeking to digitise 50% of its services during the next couple of years, the UAE PASS ID has doubled up as a digital signature for residents. In a bid to add another layer of security, facial recognition is also being adopted as a mechanism for Emiratis to access facilities offered by the government.

Amidst these developments, Xerox is poised to play a key role in the Emirates' paperless future, thanks to SigniFlow's digital signature system that can directly be embedded in the UAE cloud.