Digital transformation of society has increased the importance of reliable electronic identification means and secure electronic transactions. A qualified digital certificate represents an important element of trust services and an important technical mechanism for ensuring secure electronic transactions, as it enables the use of a qualified electronic signature, verification of the link between the holder’s identity and the cryptographic key, and the legal validity of electronic documents. At the level of the European Union, this field is regulated by the eIDAS Regulation, which establishes a unified legal and technical framework for electronic identification and trust services.
This master’s thesis examines the process of issuing and obtaining a qualified digital certificate for natural persons in the Republic of Slovenia, with a particular focus on the SIGEN-CA certificate. The purpose of the research is to analyse the efficiency of the existing procedure from the perspective of users and the SI-TRUST registration authority, as well as to identify the key challenges affecting user experience and the wider adoption of digital certificates.
The theoretical part is based on an analysis of professional literature and legal sources in the fields of electronic identification, trust services and personal data protection. The empirical part includes a process analysis of the procedure, a survey conducted among users of the SIGEN-CA qualified digital certificate and employees at the SI-TRUST registration authority within administrative units, as well as a comparative analysis of the systems in Slovenia and Estonia. Process diagrams are used to provide a clear presentation of procedures and to identify critical points within the process.
The results show that the procedure for obtaining a qualified digital certificate remains partially complex and administratively burdensome, which affects user satisfaction. Based on the findings, proposals have been formulated for simplifying procedures, increasing automation and improving user support. The thesis contributes to a better understanding of the functioning of electronic identification systems and the broader concept of digital identity as a descriptive concept, while also providing a basis for their further development.
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