Adobe Success Story

Antwerp Port Authority uses SafeNet, Adobe LiveCycle ES, and GlobalSign solutions to implement a secure electronic invoicing solution

Addressing government requirements
The Antwerp Port Authority manages Europe’s second biggest port, which offers an ideal gateway to Europe. More than 200 forwarding companies based in Antwerp help to secure shipping contracts across multiple market sectors, including steel, fruit, coffee, and tobacco. Numerous companies handle more than 16,000 seagoing ships and 65,000 barges that call at the port annually. The Antwerp Port Authority manages the fourth largest port in the world, including docks, berths, locks, and bridges.

Benefits

• Adhered to government invoicing requirements
• Reduced time and costs required to generate invoices
• Provided reliable archiving standard
• Enhanced environmental sustainability efforts

Project Details

In response to the European Directive on Invoicing (EC/115/2001) that requires member states to implement electronic invoicing as part of local value-added tax (VAT) legislation, the Port Authority deployed an advanced e-invoice system. Leveraging Adobe LiveCycle ES software and GlobalSign DocumentSign digital certificates, the dynamic e-invoice system is integrated with SafeNet hardware security modules (HSMs).

The VAT rules require suppliers to guarantee the authenticity of origin and the integrity of the content for the invoices they create. Authenticity of origin ensures that the message content was created by the person or legal entity that signed it, while integrity ensures that no changes were made to the invoice during transit.

Securing a vital process
Adobe LiveCycle ES software is used to convert invoices to PDF/A—the Portable Document Format (PDF) standard that meets archiving requirements—and then digital signatures are applied using a digital certificate. An embedded time stamp indicates the exact time of signature creation, which meets a VAT requirement for archival and storage. The Certified Document Service (CDS) digital certificates provided by GlobalSign help guarantee the integrity of digital identities to organizations and users viewing the PDF files worldwide.

The invoices in PDF are digitally signed with a secure, private signing key that requires a cryptographic HSM for certificate authority management tasks. The SafeNet Luna HSM stores the keys. The integrity of the cryptographic keys and digital certificates is vital to the overall security system—if the keys or digital certificates are compromised, the entire system is rendered obsolete.

The integration of the solutions with SafeNet Luna HSMs enables the Antwerp Port Authority to provide secure, digitally certified invoices that cryptographically bind the identity of the certifying party to the invoice. When protected documents are opened with the free Adobe Reader, document authenticity and integrity are automatically verified, allowing recipients to immediately detect whether documents have been altered after certification.

SafeNet is a global leader in information security and offers complete security solutions that utilize encryption technologies to protect communications, intellectual property, and digital identities. The company also offers a full spectrum of products including hardware, software, and chips.

“We need a reliable partner to generate added value for our business and for our customers,” says Jan Goosens, manager of software development for the Antwerp Port Authority. “With its security expertise and leading technology, SafeNet is the best choice to ensure the authenticity of our invoices and bring peace of mind to us and all our customers.”

Secure services, improved operations
The joint solution built on SafeNet, Adobe LiveCycle ES, and GlobalSign solutions enables the Antwerp Port Authority to leverage its IT investments and provide a compliant security solution that guarantees the authenticity and integrity of e-invoices.

At the same time, all parties involved in the process recognize the need to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as take advantage of opportunities to reduce billing costs. By applying digital signature and encryption technologies within a PKI network environment, Antwerp Port Authority quickly automated invoicing processes, thereby streamlining workflow, lowering costs, and meeting mandatory European directives for compliance.

For the party relying on the e-invoice, the readily available Adobe Reader allows for easy viewing, validating, processing, and archiving of invoices. The entire process is further simplified thanks to integration between Adobe Reader and the Adobe Certified Document Services (CDS) platform.

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