Certified Internet Web (CIW) Professional Practice Exam

What additional verification does a digital signature provide aside from identity confirmation and data integrity?

1. Sign digital certificate requests

2. Create certificate requests

3. Provide data confidentiality

4. Enforce non-repudiation

The correct answer is: Enforce non-repudiation

A digital signature serves multiple important functions in the realm of cybersecurity and data transactions. In addition to confirming the identity of the sender and ensuring the integrity of the data, it plays a critical role in enforcing non-repudiation. Non-repudiation refers to the assurance that someone cannot deny the validity of their signature on a document or the sending of a message. When a digital signature is applied, it is unique to the signer and linked to the document in such a way that any alteration of the document after signing would invalidate the signature. Therefore, if a sender later claims they did not send the message or sign the document, the digital signature provides evidence that they did, holding them accountable for the action. This feature is essential in legal and financial contexts where the authenticity of a transaction must be guaranteed and disputes can arise. The other options, while related to digital signatures and certification processes, do not provide this level of assurance regarding the sender's ability to deny their involvement. For example, signing or creating certificate requests pertains more to the management of digital certificates rather than the implications of the signature itself. Data confidentiality, while important, is typically achieved through encryption, not a digital signature.