---
title: "Types of Authentication"
slug: "types-of-authentication-1"
updated: 2026-10-29T17:03:07Z
published: 2026-10-29T17:03:07Z
canonical: "wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/types-of-authentication-1"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Types of Authentication

**COBBLESTONE SOFTWARE**

Contract Insight — User Guide

**Types of Authentication**

*Module: Document Collaboration Gateway › Document Collaboration Gateway E-Approvals & E-Signatures › Types of Authentication*

**Note:** Each procedure in this guide begins at the Contract Insight homepage, so any section can be followed on its own. Custom fields are configurable, so the exact field list on a contract category record may vary between environments.

# 1. Overview

Participants in an e-approval or e-signature process can be authenticated in different ways. Internal users reach their steps through the standard **application sign-in** and the **My Assignments** page. Participants who receive an emailed link sign in according to the document template's **Participant sign-in** setting: either **Open link** (the link alone opens the document) or **Secure PIN** (the participant must also enter a PIN before completing their step). A running process's console flags the method with a badge — for example **SECURE PIN**, or **INTELLISIGN** / **INTELLIAPPROVAL** when IntelliSign or IntelliApprove handling applies.

# 2. Key Elements

- **Standard application sign-in** is the baseline authentication for reaching **My Assignments** and the steps assigned to you.
- **Participant sign-in** on a document template's **Template overview** shows **Open link** or **Secure PIN**.
- The **Secure PIN authentication** option in **Template overview information** turns PIN-based authentication on for documents generated from the template.
- The **SECURE PIN** badge on a process console flags PIN-based authentication for that process.
- The **INTELLISIGN** (or **INTELLIAPPROVAL**) badge flags that IntelliSign or IntelliApprove handling applies, with participants listed by email address.

# 3. Authentication Types at a Glance

| Type | How the participant authenticates | Where it is set or shown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Application sign-in | Signs in to Contract Insight and opens the step from **My Assignments** or the homepage. | Standard user account. |
| Open link | Opens the emailed link; no extra verification. | Template overview → **Participant sign-in: Open link**. |
| Secure PIN | Opens the emailed link, then enters a PIN before completing the step. | Template overview information → **Secure PIN authentication**; console shows **SECURE PIN**. |
| IntelliSign / IntelliApprove | Participants are routed by email address through IntelliSign or IntelliApprove. | Record **Actions** → IntelliSign / IntelliApprove; console shows **INTELLISIGN** / **INTELLIAPPROVAL**. |

# 4. Standard Application Sign-In

Internal users who are signed in to Contract Insight open their steps from the homepage (**Awaiting action**) or from **Approvals & Signatures › My Assignments**, then click **Sign now**. No additional PIN is requested unless the template uses Secure PIN.

![My Assignments with Sign now](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/esp-02-my-assignments.jpg)

# 5. Setting Secure PIN Authentication on a Template

1. From the Contract Insight homepage, open **Administration**, search for **Document Templates**, and open the template.
2. On **Core setup › Template overview**, check **Participant sign-in**. It reads **Open link** or **Secure PIN**.
3. Click **Edit** on the **Template overview** panel.

![Template overview with Participant sign-in](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/auth-01-template-participant-signin.jpg)

1. In **Template overview information**, under **Options**, check **Secure PIN authentication** to require a PIN, or clear it to use an open link.
2. Click **Save**, or **Cancel** to leave without changes.

![Template overview information with Secure PIN authentication option](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/auth-02-secure-pin-option.jpg)

**Note:** The setting applies to documents generated from the template after it is saved. Processes already running keep the method they started with.

# 6. Identifying the Authentication Type on a Process

## 6a. Secure PIN

1. Go to **Approvals & Signatures › Negotiation Processes** and click **Open console** on the process.
2. A **SECURE PIN** badge at the right of the summary bar shows that participants must enter a PIN to complete their step.

![Process console with the SECURE PIN badge](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/auth-03-console-secure-pin.jpg)

## 6b. IntelliSign and IntelliApprove

1. Open the process console as above.
2. An **INTELLISIGN** (or **INTELLIAPPROVAL**) badge shows that IntelliSign or IntelliApprove handling applies. Participants are listed by email address with their source (for example, **IntelliSign for Employees**).

![Process console with the INTELLISIGN badge](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/auth-04-console-intellisign.jpg)

# 7. Quick Reference Summary

| Task | How to Complete It |
| --- | --- |
| Open your own approval or signature steps | Homepage → Awaiting action, or Approvals & Signatures → My Assignments → **Sign now**. |
| See a template's participant sign-in method | Administration → Document Templates → template → Template overview → **Participant sign-in**. |
| Require a PIN for a template | Template overview → **Edit** → **Secure PIN authentication** → **Save**. |
| Check a process's authentication type | Negotiation Processes → **Open console** → **SECURE PIN** / **INTELLISIGN** badge. |