Audit Trail: Complete Traceability for Your Electronic Signature Requests
Monitor every step of your signature requests in real time from your dashboard. Download the timestamped PDF report once the request is finalised: solid, legally admissible proof, immediately available.
What is an electronic signature audit trail?
In any electronic signature process, proof is the central question: who signed? When? Was the document actually viewed before signing? These are precisely the questions an audit trail answers, objectively and irrefutably.
An audit trail (or traceability log) is a chronological and automatic record of every event that occurred during a signature request. It documents each action, each interaction, each status change — and timestamps them with precision.
💡 Why does this matter?
In the event of a dispute, challenge, or regulatory audit, the audit trail provides admissible proof of how the signing process unfolded. It reinforces the legal value of the signed document itself.
How the audit trail works on e-Signature.eu
As soon as a signature request is created on e-Signature.eu, an audit trail is automatically associated with it. No configuration is required: traceability is enabled by default on all requests, regardless of the signature type (QES, AES or SES).
Access from your dashboard
While the request is in progress, the audit trail is accessible directly from your dashboard. You can monitor the process in real time: check whether a signatory has opened the invitation email, viewed the document, or already signed.
Once the request is finalised or stopped (all signatories have signed, or the request has been cancelled or abandoned), the audit trail becomes downloadable as a PDF. This PDF is protected by a timestamp that certifies its integrity and ensures its content has not been altered after generation.
Recorded events
The e-Signature.eu audit trail records the following key events:
- ✉️ Invitation to sign sent by email — date, time and destination email address
- 👁️ Document viewed by the signatory — confirmation of opening before signing
- ✅ Document signed — signatory identity, precise date and time
- ⬇️ Signed document downloaded — download recorded by one of the parties
- 🚫 Request abandoned — termination resulting from abandonment
- ✏️ Signatory email address updated — old and new address recorded
Legal and evidentiary value of the audit trail
The eIDAS regulatory framework (European Regulation No. 910/2014) recognises the importance of traceability in electronic signature processes. While the legal value of a signed document rests primarily on the signature level (QES, AES or SES), the audit trail strengthens the overall body of evidence.
🔒 Timestamp and integrity
The audit trail PDF is protected by a timestamp. This mechanism certifies that the document existed in its exact form at a precise moment in time and has not been altered since. It provides an additional guarantee of authenticity for your evidentiary file.
When is the audit trail useful?
⚖️ In the event of a dispute
A counterpart disputes having signed a document? The audit trail proves the invitation was sent to their email address, that they viewed the document, and that the signature was applied — with precise dates and times.
🏢 During a regulatory audit
Certain sectors (finance, healthcare, real estate, HR) are subject to documentary traceability obligations. The downloadable audit trail then becomes a key element of the compliance file.
📋 For internal processes
Tracking who signed, in what order and at what time is invaluable for managing multi-signatory contracts or internal approval workflows.
Audit trail and signature levels: a robust combination
e-Signature.eu offers several levels of electronic signature, each suited to different needs. The audit trail is generated for all requests, regardless of the level chosen.
| Signature level | Method | Coverage | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| QES — Qualified | itsme® / Evrotrust | 32 / 62 countries | 1 credit |
| AES — Advanced | Veriff | 198 countries | 0.7 credit |
| SES — Simple | OTP email | Worldwide | 0.4 credit |
💡 The highest level of proof
The combination of a qualified signature (itsme® or Evrotrust) and a timestamped audit trail delivers the most complete level of proof available on the platform — the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature, with end-to-end certified traceability.
Key takeaways
- Automatic and zero-configuration: the audit trail is enabled by default on all requests, regardless of the signature level (QES, AES or SES).
- Real-time monitoring: track every step from your dashboard while the request is active.
- Downloadable timestamped PDF: once the request is finalised or stopped, the report is available and certified by timestamp.
- Evidentiary value: admissible proof in the event of a dispute, regulatory audit, or internal compliance requirement.
- No added cost: included in all requests, with no additional credits required.
Try the audit trail on your next request
Create your signature request now and track every step in real time from your dashboard. No subscription, no commitment.