How to configure electronic signatures

What are electronic signatures?

An electronic signature refers to data in electronic form (username and password), which is associated with other data in electronic form (electronic reports) and which is used by a person with the intent to sign data.

Before reading the document please note that the key takeaways that we provide represent our advice in regards to the regulations and how you can implement your electronic signatures to help compliance with 21 CFR part 11 regulations. We do not represent any government agency and nothing in this guide should be taken as fact. The regulations we provide are true to the publishing date.

Electronic signature regulations

Regulation (Subpart C – Electronic Signatures)

Sec. 11.100 General requirements.

(a) Each electronic signature shall be unique to one individual and shall not be reused by, or reassigned to, anyone else.

Key takeaways:

  • Maintain a historical list of electronic signatures.
  • Ensure electronic signatures are historically unique.
  • Keep an account of electronic signatures to ensure that a name is not duplicated.
  • Maintain a historical list of current and historical users with access privileges.
  • Periodically review current and historical list of users with access privileges to find users who have changed roles or jobs but still retain access.

(b) Before an organization establishes, assigns, certifies, or otherwise sanctions an individual’s electronic signature, or any element of such electronic signature, the organization shall verify the identity of the individual.

Key takeaway:

  • Each individual, who will be using an electronic signature, must have their identity confirmed.

(c) Persons using electronic signatures shall, prior to or at the time of such use, certify to the agency that the electronic signatures in their system, used on or after August 20, 1997, are intended to be the legally binding equivalent of traditional handwritten signatures.

(1) The certification shall be submitted in paper form and signed with a traditional handwritten signature, to the Office of Regional Operations (HFC-100), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

(2) Persons using electronic signatures shall, upon agency request, provide additional certification or testimony that a specific electronic signature is the legally binding equivalent of the signer’s handwritten signature.

Key takeaway:

  • Organisations that wish to use electronic signatures must inform the FDA in writing prior to making the switch.

11.200 – Electronic signature components and controls

(a) Electronic signatures that are not based upon biometrics shall:

(1) Employ at least two distinct identification components such as an identification code and password.

(i) When an individual executes a series of signings during a single, continuous period of controlled system access, the first signing shall be executed using all electronic signature components; subsequent signings shall be executed using at least one electronic signature component that is only executable by, and designed to be used only by, the individual.

(ii) When an individual executes one or more signings not performed during a single, continuous period of controlled system access, each signing shall be executed using all of the electronic signature components.

Key takeaway:

  • Every individual must have two components to their signature (username and password).

(2) Be used only by their genuine owners; and (3) a. Be administered and executed to ensure that attempted use of an individual’s electronic signature by anyone other than its genuine owner requires collaboration of two or more individuals. b. Electronic signatures based upon biometrics shall be designed to ensure that they cannot be used by anyone other than their genuine owners.

Key takeaways:

  • GxP Module requires two individuals with administrative privileges, to approve projects if an individual who should have signed is unavailable.
  • Finger print, retinal scans etc. cannot be overwritten by any individual and can only be used by the individuals whom they are assigned.

11.300 – Controls for identification codes/passwords.

Persons who use electronic signatures based upon use of identification codes in combination with passwords shall employ controls to ensure their security and integrity. Such controls shall include:

(a) Maintaining the uniqueness of each combined identification code and password, such that no two individuals have the same combination of identification code and password.

Key takeaways:

  • Maintain a historical list of electronic signatures.
  • Ensure electronic signatures are unique (including historically)
  • Ensure that no two users have the same combination of username and password. AuditSafe disables username and/or password replication.

(b) Ensuring that identification code and password issuances are periodically checked, recalled, or revised (e.g., to cover such events as password aging).

Key takeaway:

  • Periodically check and change usernames and passwords.

(c) Following loss management procedures to electronically deauthorize lost, stolen, missing, or otherwise potentially compromised tokens, cards, and other devices that bear or generate identification code or password information, and to issue temporary or permanent replacements using suitable, rigorous controls.

Key takeaway:

  • If a username and password is stolen or lost, it must be deauthorised and the individual must be given a secure replacement.

(d) Use of transaction safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of passwords and/or identification codes, and to detect and report in an immediate and urgent manner any attempts at their unauthorized use to the system security unit, and, as appropriate, to organizational management.

Key takeaways:

  • Configure user accounts so that any attempts to gain access to unauthorised accounts is detected and reported to the appropriate person in an organisation.

(e) Initial and periodic testing of devices, such as tokens or cards, that bear or generate identification code or password information to ensure that they function properly and have not been altered in an unauthorized manner.

Key takeaway:

  • Before electronic signatures are used they must be tested to make sure they are functioning correctly.

Your next steps…

Achieving compliance with your electronic signature can be an easy process, following our guidelines above can be used as a starting point for your compliance needs.

If you would like a demonstration of AuditSafe, an end-to-end tracking and collaboration system for labs requiring 21 CFR Part 11/GMP-compliance, please get in touch.