As defined in Government Decree No. 106/2011/ND-CP of November 23, amending Decree No. 26/2007/ND-CP of February 15, 2007, detailing the implementation of the Law on Electronic Transactions regarding digital signatures and digital signature certification services, public digital signatures are digital signatures created by subscribers using digital certificates issued by public digital signature service providers for use in e-transactions of people and businesses. Special-use digital signatures are digital signatures created by subscribers using digital certificates issued by the Government Cipher Commission for use in e-transactions within state agencies.
From February 1, 2012, digital signature certification service providers will be only required to assure that their technical, managerial, operating, security and customer service staffs are qualified and have never been convicted. They are no longer required to have specialized legal knowledge.