PDF 2.0 makes it possible to digitally sign documents - and more importantly, in a manner by which you can be sure that the signature has in fact originated from the signatory in question.

Recent years have seen the increasing importance of being able to transmit confidential documents using the World Wide Web. One good example of this are invoices, many of which are only sent by email nowadays. Not to mention how we see contracts, notarized, and other official documents and messages being exchanged digitally more and more often.

Businesses see in metadata a useful tool for organizing their information and documents.

The maxim holds true: When collecting data, the more time you invest in intelligent management and the set-up and maintaining of databases, the greater will be the added value over the medium and long term. This is an investment that is obviously well worth making. With the help of metadata, fewer resources are needed to perform a wide range of actions and operations, one example of which is vastly simplifying searches by using consistent and standardized vocabulary.

What's the deal with PDF/A?​

Originally designated PDF/A-1, this standardized version of the conventional PDF format was established as the international standard ISO 19005-1 in late 2005 and has been available as an ISO standard in its extended versions PDF/A-2 and PDF/A-3 since July 2011 and October 2012 respectively. Since that time, and for a great many businesses, the PDF/A format has provided a basis for long-term archiving that is as uncomplicated as it is secure. The unbeatable advantage of this file format is that the documents themselves contain all the elements needed for reproduction.