You can use a digital signature with a digital certificate. In fact, a digital signature is just one part of this type of certificate. Each certificate contains specific standardized information, such as the version number, creation date, company name, and valid period. Other information is optional, like using a digital signature, and is not required, when using this type of certificate to authenticate access to different applications.
Do I Need a Digital Certificate for Two Factor Authentication?
When you want to use two factor authentication, you often need a digital certificate. The information contained in the certificate is required in order to provide the second layer of security. After a user enters their user name and password, they are challenged for their certificate, containing their authentication information. As long as they have the correct certificate, they will have access to their approved resources.