ISO 14533-4-2019 PDF
Name in English:
St ISO 14533-4-2019
Name in Russian:
Ст ISO 14533-4-2019
Original standard ISO 14533-4-2019 in PDF full version. Additional info + preview on request
Full title and description
Processes, data elements and documents in commerce, industry and administration — Long term signature profiles — Part 4: Attributes pointing to (external) proof of existence objects used in long term signature formats (PoEAttributes). This part defines attributes that point to external proof-of-existence (PoE) objects which can be used to support long-term validation and preservation of digital signatures.
Abstract
This document specifies elements (drawn from ISO/ITU‑T, ETSI and relevant IETF RFCs) that enable at least a proof of existence for data objects and digital signatures, and supports preservation of signature validity over long periods. It defines PoE attributes, clarifies usage of external PoE objects referenced by those attributes, and describes how digital signatures and trusted time values interact with such external PoE objects for long‑term validation and preservation.
General information
- Status: Published; International Standard (confirmed in 2025).
- Publication date: August 2019 (Edition 1, 2019-08).
- Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
- ICS / categories: 35.240.63 (Processes, data elements and documents in commerce, industry and administration).
- Edition / version: Edition 1 (2019).
- Number of pages: 37.
Scope
ISO 14533-4:2019 specifies the definition and intended use of attributes that point to external proof‑of‑existence objects (PoE objects) usable in long‑term signature formats. It addresses how such attributes reference externally stored PoE artefacts (for example timestamps, archival attestations or other evidence) and clarifies their role in preserving and validating digital signatures over long periods without redefining underlying signature mechanisms. The document draws on existing international specifications from ISO/ITU‑T, ETSI and IETF where relevant.
Key topics and requirements
- Definition and syntax of PoEAttributes that reference external proof‑of‑existence objects.
- Rules for using external PoE objects alongside long‑term signature formats (e.g., CAdES/XAdES/PAdES profiles).
- Guidance on incorporation of trusted time values and digital signatures when PoE objects are external to the signed container.
- Interoperability considerations with standards from ETSI, ITU‑T and IETF (mapping and references rather than new cryptographic primitives).
- Preservation-oriented usage notes: how PoEAttributes can assist archival workflows and long‑term validation.
Typical use and users
Implementers of digital‑signature libraries and products, trust service providers (TSPs), long‑term digital archives and records managers, software vendors producing CAdES/XAdES/PAdES tooling, standards developers, and compliance/legal teams concerned with evidence of existence and signature validity across archival timeframes. Use cases include validating older signatures where supporting evidence is stored externally, integrating archival timestamps/proofs into signature validation workflows, and designing preservation profiles.
Related standards
ISO 14533 is a multi‑part series; closely related parts include ISO 14533‑1 (CAdES profiles), ISO 14533‑2 (XAdES profiles) and ISO 14533‑3 (PAdES profiles). This part references and interoperates with specifications from ETSI, ITU‑T and IETF (RFCs) that define long‑term signature, timestamping and related proof mechanisms. Users should consult the other parts of ISO 14533 for specific profile requirements and ETSI/IETF documentation for protocol-level details.
Keywords
Long‑term signature, PoEAttributes, proof of existence, external proof objects, timestamping, signature preservation, CAdES, XAdES, PAdES, digital signature validation, archival evidence.
FAQ
Q: What is this standard?
A: ISO 14533‑4:2019 is Part 4 of the ISO 14533 series; it defines attributes that point to external proof‑of‑existence objects used to support long‑term digital signature validation and preservation.
Q: What does it cover?
A: It covers the definitions, intended usage and interoperability considerations for PoEAttributes — attributes that reference external PoE artefacts (for example timestamps or attestations) — and explains how those references can be used in long‑term signature formats without redefining existing signature mechanisms.
Q: Who typically uses it?
A: Software and service implementers (signature libraries, TSPs), archivists and records managers, compliance and legal teams, and standards bodies working on signature preservation and long‑term validation use this standard.
Q: Is it current or superseded?
A: ISO 14533‑4:2019 was published in August 2019 (Edition 1). The ISO record shows the publication was reviewed and confirmed in 2025, so the 2019 edition remains the current version.
Q: Is it part of a series?
A: Yes — it is Part 4 of the ISO 14533 series on long‑term signature profiles; other parts address specific signature container profiles (CAdES, XAdES, PAdES). Consult ISO 14533‑1, ‑2 and ‑3 for the container‑specific profiles.
Q: What are the key keywords?
A: Long‑term signature, proof of existence (PoE), PoEAttributes, external proof objects, timestamping, signature preservation, CAdES, XAdES, PAdES.