Certificate Authority Capacity and Digital Signature Market Demand in Promoting Interoperability in Malaysia.

. The adoption of digital signatures is becoming increasingly popular among Malaysian users due to its many advantages, including increased security, convenience, and cost savings. However, one of the challenges that users face is the lack of cross Certification Authority (CA) interoperability, which hinders the ability to use digital signatures across different platforms and services. To address this challenge, there is a growing need for promoting cross CA interoperability in Malaysia, which would enable users to use digital signatures seamlessly across various platforms and services. This paper aims to identify the CA capacity and digital signature market demand in promoting cross CA interoperability. This can be achieved through the qualitative interviews from CAs operating in Malaysia to gather views on interoperability across their platforms, the value and implications of such practice, and to establish the potential relationship between interoperability and increased Digital Signature efficiency and market demand. The interview data is analyzed using Atlas.ti and meta-analysis. Based on the result, the adoption of digital signatures and the promotion of cross CA interoperability are critical for advancing Malaysia's digital economy and enhancing the country's overall competitiveness. With the right infrastructure and policies in place, Malaysia can become a leader in the use of digital signatures and the promotion of cross CA interoperability, which would benefit both individuals and businesses alike.


Introduction
The Digital Signature Act 1997 (DSA 1997) and Digital Signature Regulations 1998 (DSR 1998) provide the licensing framework for providing digital signatures in Malaysia, including the type of services, the qualification requirements, applications, and the respective fees.The DSA 1997 defines a digital signature as an electronic method of authentication that uses a mathematical algorithm to validate the authenticity and integrity of a digital document or message [1].The act also provides for the recognition of digital signatures as legally binding and enforceable in electronic transactions.On the other hand, the DSR 1998 further provides detailed requirements for the creation, verification, and storage of digital signatures.The regulations specify the technical standards that must be used to create and verify digital signatures, including the use of public key cryptography and the X.509 certificate format [2].The acts also provide for the accreditation and regulation of Certification Authorities (CAs) that issue digital certificates and provide other services related to digital signatures.CAs are required to comply with strict security and operational standards and are subject to regular audits and inspections.
For a digital signature to be valid, enforceable, and effective in Malaysia, it must be certified and validated by licensed certification authorities.CA's main function is to issue a subscriber's certificate upon application as an identity to be listed in the certificate under the DSA 1997.Despite the presence of multiple CAs in Malaysia, the lack of interoperability among them creates challenges for users who need to use digital signatures across different platforms.Currently, a user who obtains a digital certificate from one CA cannot use the same certificate on another CA's platform [3].This limits the flexibility and ease of use of digital signatures, which can be a barrier to wider adoption and usage of digital signatures in Malaysia.Therefore, there is a need to explore the feasibility of establishing interoperability among different CAs in Malaysia and identify potential strategies and approaches for achieving this goal.In this paper, the author wants to answer the following question: i.
What is the capacity of Certificate Authority to meet current and forecasted medium-term demand for interoperability?ii.
What is the relationship between increased digital signature efficiency and interoperability against potentially higher market demand?
Hypotheses H1 until H4 have been made to examine the relationship increased digital signature efficiency and interoperability against potentially higher market demand by using Atlas.ti.
H1: Facilitating Condition (Demand Capacity) positively influences the users' intention to use digital signature.H2: Performance, ease of use and effort expectancy positively influences the users' usage intention to use digital signature.H3: Initial trust in digital signature technology mediates the relationship between performance expectancy and usage intention.H4: Government regulations moderate the relationship between facilitating conditions and usage intention.

Methodology
This study employs a qualitative research design, specifically utilising semi-structured interviews.The method described is commonly employed as a qualitative strategy to acquire a comprehensive comprehension of a particular subject [4].The objective of this approach is to collect data from CAs by carefully selecting individuals who are directly involved in their operations.The aim of this study is to gather the in-depth understanding on interoperability challenges among CAs, therefore the qualitative method (interview) has been utilized.The selection of the representative for interview session will encompass individuals holding managerial and operational positions, so facilitating the acquisition of diverse perspectives on the issues at hand.Inclusion criteria for the participants were: • Malaysians aged 18 years old and above, • a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the area of digital certificate and digital signature.
A total of fifteen (15) interviewee /respondents from managers and technical level from three (3) CAs agreed to an invitation to participate in an interview session.Each participant was asked semi-structured, in-depth questions to elicit response corresponding to the research objective via face-to-face and online interviews.

Steps involved in conducting and transcribing interviews.
Invitation emails were sent to the Four (4) CAs and only three (3) responded and agreed for interview sessions.Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted with CAs and 15 managers as well as technical personal representing their companies were interviewed in August 2023.
Verbal consent for participation and audio-record the interview was obtained during the interviews.The researchers emphasised maintaining the anonymity of the participants and the confidentiality of the study findings.The researchers used triangulation as a strategy to allow for consistency checks across multiple sources and achieve an adequate representation of the phenomenon under study.The interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis to help the researcher pe-ruse the data, listen to the respondents' accounts, and reflect analytically on the findings.

Conclude Findings
In order to validate the semi-structured interview's content, the assessment made by various experts from Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on different aspects of the interview was taken into account.Next, the interview data will be subjected to analysis utilising the software tool Atlas.ti.Atlas.tifacilitates the analysis of interview material by organising it thematically and generating summaries of the findings [5].The findings hold significant im-portance in comprehending the interoperability difficulties and potential collaborative solutions from the standpoint of collective action.Table 1 below shows the interview questions asked during the data collection session.The participants were provided with questionnaires in advance of the interview session to facilitate their preparation for accurate responses.The following sections will discuss the results of the interview and analysis by Atlas ti.Can you describe any efforts to educate users about digital signature technology to improve their understanding and trust in its use? 9.
How do you envision the role of government agencies or regulatory bodies in promoting and facilitating interoperability among CAs?

Result and Discussion
CAs play a critical role in the digital security infrastructure by issuing digital certificates that verify the authenticity of websites, applications, and users.As technology continues to advance, the demand for secure digital transactions and communications is increasing.This paper presents initial findings on the capacity of the CAs in Malaysia to meet both the current and forecasted medium-term demand for digital certificates and interoperability.The assessment was conducted through interviews.The data on the infrastructure capabilities, security in place, resources, cost and training were collected through interview and analyzed using Atlas.ti.

What is the relationship between increased digital signature efficiency and interoperability against potentially higher market demand?
The establishment of a clear relationship between increased Digital Signature (DS) efficiency and interoperability is crucial for understanding their potential impact on market demand and adoption.Finding from the interviews data, the relationship between increased digital signature (DS) efficiency and interoperability against potentially higher market demand and adoption of digital signatures have several key points as shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 2 : Relationship between Digital Signature Efficiency and Interoperability against Market Demand
In all three interviews, there is a consensus that digital signatures significantly improve efficiency and productivity in various tasks and workflows.They eliminate the need for physical signing, printing, and scanning of documents, enabling users to sign and approve documents from anywhere with an internet connection.Digital signatures also facilitate the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) by allowing for predefined signing sequences and timestamps, ensuring compliance with regulations.
CA1 mentions MAMPU's role as a hub for distributing certificates from different Certificate Authorities (CAs) in Malaysia.This interoperability ensures that certificates from various CAs can be used across different government agencies.CA2 highlights collaborations with other digital signature providers and the use of eKYC platforms to enhance verification methods.These collaborations contribute to interoperability in the digital signature ecosystem.CA3 mentions partnerships and technology integration to convert electronic signatures into digital signatures, emphasizing the importance of interoperability between different solutions.
All three interviews discuss efforts to promote the adoption of digital signature technology, such as workshops, roadshows, and awareness campaigns.here is a focus on approaching targeted organizations and individuals to demonstrate the benefits and use cases of digital signatures.Digital signatures are perceived as highly useful and productive, leading to increased efficiency in various tasks, which can drive market demand and adoption [8].Trust in digital signature technology is crucial for its adoption.The interviews mention various efforts to inform users about the benefits and limitations of digital signatures.These efforts include social media promotion, workshops, direct pitches to organizations, and proof of concept demonstrations.Compliance with international standards, such as WebTrust certification, is highlighted as a way to ensure trust in digital signature technology [9].
Based on the analysis, relationship diagram in Figure 2 have been made to identify the relationship between increased digital signature efficiency and interoperability against potentially higher market demand.Therefore, the data was consistent with H1, H2, H3 and H4.

Conclusion
The relationship between increased DS efficiency and interoperability is crucial for driving higher market demand and adoption of digital signatures.Efficient digital signature processes, coupled with interoperability between different providers and platforms, can enhance user experiences and productivity, ultimately leading to greater trust and adoption of this technology [10].Efforts to promote digital signatures and build trust among users play a pivotal role in driving adoption within both government and private sectors.In conclusion, while there are comprehensive measures in place to ensure the security, availability, and adoption of DS technology, challenges persist.These challenges range from human-related vulnerabilities to economic considerations and the need for regulatory support.Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, involving technological advancements, user education, industry collaboration, and regulatory support.

Figure 1
illustrated the research flow diagram.

Table 1 .
Questions on the Capacity and Market Demand among the CAs