Recipient verification: Knowledge-based authentication (KBA)

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Marya Maksimchuk
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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 Workspace defaults. From here, you can set up:

  1. Default verification methods
  2. Default verification time (before opening or before signing)
  3. 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.

There are three ways you can enable KBA:

  • While creating a document from scratch, or from a template
  • In a document 
  • In the dialog before sending a document 

Now let's dig deeper into each.

Setting up KBA in a newly created document

Note:

You can set up KBA via API right in a document creation request or once the document is created.

Start by selecting +Document from the Document list.

Select an existing template or +Blank to create a new document from scratch. If you have a PDF or .docx file, you can drag and drop it to the upload area.

Next, assign a recipient, then select the small arrow on the right to unfold recipient settings and select Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) from the ‘Recipient verification’ dropdown.

Once selected, you can customize verification time — your choices are before opening a document, or before signing a document.

Note:

The verification time option is only available for recipients who have at least one field assigned to them (signers).

Once you've set up recipient verification, select Continue. Finish setting up your document, then send it!

Note:

You can disable KBA or change the recipient verification method after the document is sent.

Setting up KBA in a previously created document

Note:

You can set up recipient verification on a document in any status.

You can set up recipient verification in a previously created document if you select Skip during the document generation step, or if you’d like to use an existing draft document.

Start by opening the document. Next, select the Manage button at the top of the page, or select the Manage recipients tab on the right and add your recipients.

Then, select the recipient's name and switch on the “Recipient verification” toggle.

Once you’ve switched on the toggle, you can select KBA as the verification method and then customize the verification time if needed – your choices are before opening a document, or before signing a document. 

Note:

The verification time option is only available for recipients who have at least one field assigned to them (signers).

Finish setting up your document, then send it!

Note:

You can disable KBA or change the recipient verification method after sending the document.

Setting up KBA in the ‘Send document’ dialog 

When you send documents via Email / Text(SMS) you can set up or/and customize KBA after you prepare your document and select Send.

In the ‘Send document’ dialog select Knowledge-based (KBA) in the ‘Recipient verification’ dropdown. Then customize the verification time if needed – your choices are before opening or signing a document. 

Note:

The verification time option is only available for recipients who have at least one field assigned to them (signers).

Select Continue, finish setting up an email message for your recipient, and send your document. 

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.

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.

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