Availability: Business and Enterprise plans
Cost: $2 per each knowledge-based authentication (KBA) attempt. You can purchase a volume package with a minimum of 10 KBA attempts.
Note: Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) is available only for US citizens, as it requires a Social Security Number (SSN).
Enhance the security of your document transactions by verifying signers' identities using knowledge-based authentication (KBA). This method adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that the person signing the document is indeed who they claim to be.
KBA serves as an alternative to existing verification options such as passcodes and SMS. It verifies an individual's identity by asking questions based on personal information that only they should know. These questions are generated from public records, credit reports, and other reliable sources.
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How to customize KBA in workspace settings
Customers with Business and Enterprise plan subscriptions will have the 'Recipient Verification' add-on and all available verification methods enabled by default.
Select your profile image at the bottom left corner to access Settings, then select Recipient experience. From here, you can set up:
Default verification methods
Default verification time (before opening or before signing)
Available verification types
Additionally, you can customize the KBA experience for your recipients:
Select the number of minutes to answer the questions (from 2 to 10, default is 2).
Number of correct answers a recipient must provide (4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5, default is 4 out of 5).
Number of attempts to pass the authentication process (from 1 to 3, default is 2).
IMPORTANT: We will charge for each attempt, not for successful verification. Therefore, if a recipient passes verification on the second attempt, we will deduct 2 verifications from the balance.
You can preview how KBA will look for your recipients by selecting the Preview button.
How to set up KBA for a recipient
Note: Make sure you purchase a KBA verification package before setting up recipient verification for your recipients.
Warning: You can set up KBA only in a document — not in a template or form. You can automate setting up recipient verification via API.
You can configure KBA verification either when editing a document, or right before sending it out.
Setting up KBA when editing a document
To enable KBA recipient verification when editing a document:
Select File at the top menu
Click E-signature and verification
On the right-hand panel that opens, select Knowledge-based verification in the Identity verification dropdown.
Choose if a recipient should be asked to proceed with the identity verification before opening a document or before signing it
Save changes and proceed to sending your document
Note: The verification time option is only available for recipients who have at least one field assigned to them (signers).
Note: You can disable KBA or change the recipient verification method after the document is sent.
Setting up KBA before sending a document
To enable KBA recipient verification right before sending a document:
Select the three vertical ellipses button to the right of the recipient's name
Click E-signature and verification
Select Knowledge-based verification in the Identity verification dropdown.
Choose if a recipient should be asked to proceed with the identity verification before opening a document or before signing it
Click Done to save your changes
Send your document
Note: The verification time option is only available for recipients who have at least one field assigned to them (signers).
Note: You can disable KBA or change the recipient verification method after the document is sent.
Recipient experience
As a document recipient, you may need to pass KBA before opening or signing the document. You'll need to provide your personal details, including your SSN, and answer five questions.
Depending on the sender's setup, you'll have five questions that you'll need to answer within two to 10 minutes. You might have multiple attempts to complete the verification depending on the settings so in case of a failed attempt, you'll have a second one.
You will have limited time to answer the questions. If the time limit expires, we will auto-submit the answered questions.
Note: If identity verification is required before opening the document, it will remain required even after the document is completed.
In case identity verification fails and you don't have remaining attempts available you may need to contact the document sender.
The signature certificate of a completed document will display:
The type of recipient verification (KBA)
The timestamp KBA was passed
The number of attempts it took to complete
The number of questions answered correctly (4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5)
Time it took to answer questions
Tracking KBA verification
You can check if a KBA recipient verification was successful in the document's Latest activity and timeline.