PingFederate

Basic Information

Ping Identity PingFederate is an enterprise federation server designed for user authentication and single sign-on (SSO). It acts as a global authentication authority, enabling secure access for employees, customers, and partners to applications from any device.

• Model: PingFederate Server
• Version: The latest stable version is 12.3.3, released in October 2025. Other recent versions include 12.2.5, 12.1.10, 12.0.10, and 11.3.14.
• Release Date: Version 12.3.3 was released in October 2025.
• Minimum Requirements: Requires a multi-core Intel Xeon processor or higher with a minimum of four processing cores, 4 GB of RAM (with 1.5 GB available to PingFederate), and 1 GB of available hard drive space.
• Supported Operating Systems: Includes Amazon Linux (2022, 2023), Canonical Ubuntu LTS (20.04, 22.04, 24.04), Microsoft Windows Server (2016, 2019, 2022), Oracle Linux (7.9, 8.10, 9.4, 9.5), Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (7.9, 8.10, 9.5), SUSE Linux Enterprise (12 SP5, 15 SP4), and RockyLinux 9.5. Docker is also supported.
• Latest Stable Version: 12.3.3 (October 2025).
• End of Support Date: End of support dates vary by major version. For example, PingFederate 11.2 reaches EOL in December 2024, 11.1 in June 2024, and 11.0 in December 2023. Ping Identity's policy states that Short-Term Support versions reach End of Life two years after the release date of the next version, while Long-Term Support versions have a guaranteed minimum Active Maintenance of three years.
• End of Life Date: See End of Support Date.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly defined as an auto-update expiration. However, runtime services cease immediately upon license expiration.
• License Type: Proprietary software, available on a subscription basis. Evaluation licenses are typically available for 30 days. Each installation in a cluster requires a separate license key.
• Deployment Model: Supports on-premise, cloud-hosted (e.g., AWS, Azure SQL Managed Instance), and web-based deployments. It can be deployed behind application load balancers, network load balancers, or reverse proxies.

Technical Requirements

PingFederate's technical requirements are designed to support robust identity management operations, with scalability being a key consideration.

• RAM: A minimum of 4 GB of RAM is required, with 1.5 GB specifically available for PingFederate. JVM heap sizing is critical for performance, and the system can be configured to allocate a significant percentage of available memory to the JVM.
• Processor: A multi-core Intel Xeon processor or higher is recommended, with a minimum of four processing cores.
• Storage: 1 GB of available hard drive space is a minimum, with additional space needed for default logging, auditing profiles, and other data.
• Display: Standard display capabilities are sufficient for administrative console access.
• Ports: Specific port requirements are not detailed in general documentation but are part of network configuration when deploying with load balancers or proxies.
• Operating System: Compatible with various enterprise Linux distributions (Amazon Linux, Ubuntu LTS, Oracle Linux, RHEL ES, SUSE, RockyLinux) and Microsoft Windows Server versions.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for PingFederate are moderate for basic installations but emphasize scalability for enterprise environments. The recommendation for multi-core processors and sufficient RAM highlights its role in handling concurrent requests and complex identity processes. Proper JVM memory tuning is crucial for optimizing performance, especially in high-volume deployments, as PingFederate is a Java application. While minimum storage is low, real-world deployments require significantly more for logs, audit trails, and configuration data. The broad OS support ensures flexibility in deployment environments.

Support & Compatibility

PingFederate offers extensive support and compatibility options to integrate within diverse enterprise IT landscapes.

• Latest Version: The current latest version is 12.3.3.
• OS Support: Comprehensive support for major enterprise operating systems, including Amazon Linux, Ubuntu LTS, Windows Server, Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise, and RockyLinux.
• End of Support Date: Support policies vary by major release, with Long-Term Support (LTS) versions receiving extended maintenance. Users should consult the Ping Identity EOL Software Tracker for specific version lifecycles.
• Localization: Features multi-lingual support, including browser language detection and a framework for translating end-user interfaces.
• Available Drivers: Supports various JDBC 4.2 drivers for integration with databases such as PingDirectory, Amazon DynamoDB, Aurora MySQL/PostgreSQL, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database, Oracle MySQL, and PostgreSQL.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

PingFederate demonstrates strong compatibility with prevalent enterprise operating systems and database solutions, which is essential for its role as a central identity provider. The provision of multi-lingual support enhances its usability in global deployments. Ping Identity maintains clear End of Life (EOL) policies, but organizations must actively manage their PingFederate versions to ensure continuous support and access to updates. Integration kits and provisioners are available for various third-party applications and systems.

Security Status

PingFederate is designed with robust security features to manage and protect digital identities and access.

• Security Features: Provides Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), identity federation (supporting SAML, OAuth, OpenID Connect, WS-Federation, WS-Trust, SCIM), API security, and user provisioning/de-provisioning. It includes extensive audit and logging capabilities, manages Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) keys, and supports Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) like AWS CloudHSM, Entrust nShield, and Thales Luna HSMs for cryptographic operations. Access decisions can be based on contextual data such as location, device, and time.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Historically, PingFederate has had known vulnerabilities, including Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), various authentication bypasses (e.g., MFA, RADIUS PCV), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), XML External Entity (XXE) attacks, and open redirect issues. Ping Identity regularly releases patches and security fixes to address these.
• Blacklist Status: No general blacklist status is reported.
• Certifications: Mentions compatibility with Bouncy Castle FIPS 2.0.
• Encryption Support: Supports TLS 1.3 (with Oracle Java 21) and XML encryption for SAML assertions.
• Authentication Methods: Supports a wide range of authentication methods, including SAML, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, WS-Federation, WS-Trust, and various MFA options (PingID, email One-Time Password, SMS, security keys, biometrics).
• General Recommendations: It is critical to keep PingFederate installations updated with the latest versions and apply all available patches. Secure configuration, particularly regarding proxy settings and administrative console access, is highly recommended to mitigate potential risks.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

PingFederate offers a high level of security features, making it a robust choice for enterprise identity management. Its comprehensive support for industry-standard protocols, strong authentication methods, and hardware security integration provides a solid foundation for protecting digital identities. However, like any complex software, it is not immune to vulnerabilities. Ping Identity's proactive approach to releasing patches and security advisories is crucial. Organizations must maintain a vigilant patching schedule and adhere to secure configuration best practices to ensure the ongoing integrity and confidentiality of their identity infrastructure.

Performance & Benchmarks

Performance in PingFederate is primarily driven by system resource allocation and configuration optimization.

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, publicly available benchmark scores are not detailed in the provided information.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Performance is heavily influenced by the number of concurrent requests. Optimal performance relies on adequate CPU resources, sufficient RAM, and efficient JVM heap sizing and garbage collection.
• Power Consumption: Not specified.
• Carbon Footprint: Not specified.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: User reviews on platforms like G2 and SaaSworthy rate PingFederate highly (4.6/5 and 4.7/5 respectively). Users praise its ease of implementation and secure authentication. Some feedback indicates occasional performance issues, often linked to configuration or UI experience.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

PingFederate's performance is highly configurable and scalable, largely depending on the underlying infrastructure and meticulous tuning. While explicit benchmark numbers are not readily available, the emphasis on CPU, RAM, and JVM optimization suggests that with proper resource allocation and configuration, it can handle significant loads. User feedback generally points to strong performance in real-world scenarios, especially when deployed in environments that meet or exceed recommended specifications and are correctly tuned for concurrency. Occasional performance concerns typically stem from suboptimal configurations rather than inherent limitations of the software.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback highlight PingFederate's strengths in enterprise identity management, alongside areas for improvement.

• Strengths: Users frequently praise its ease of implementation and application onboarding, robust technical support for Identity and Access Management (IAM) issues, and overall ease of use. Key strengths include self-service capabilities for multi-factor authentication (2FA), flexibility for security engineers to customize features, and seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) setup. It is recognized for its strong security features, comprehensive identity management capabilities, and broad integration with various identity providers and standards (SAML, OAuth). The user-friendly interface and integration with existing systems are also highly valued.
• Weaknesses: Common criticisms include a lack of direct support for Privileged Access Management (PAM) and suggestions for improving the dashboard user interface. Some users report occasional performance issues, which can often be attributed to specific configurations, and mention that documentation could be more comprehensive in certain areas.
• Recommended Use Cases: PingFederate is highly recommended for main user authentication to applications, application onboarding, policy selection, API integration, SAML configuration, user provisioning, MFA, and SSO. It is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses across various industries, including banking, healthcare, retail, and education, that require robust and secure identity management solutions.

Summary

Ping Identity PingFederate stands as a powerful and flexible enterprise federation server, excelling in providing secure user authentication and single sign-on across diverse applications and devices. Its core strength lies in its comprehensive support for industry-standard identity protocols like SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect, enabling seamless integration with a wide array of identity providers and existing IT infrastructures. Users consistently commend its ease of implementation, robust security features, and the flexibility it offers to security engineers for customization. The platform's extensive audit capabilities and support for Hardware Security Modules further bolster its security posture, making it a reliable choice for protecting sensitive identity data.

However, like any sophisticated enterprise solution, PingFederate presents areas for improvement. Some users note that the dashboard UI could be enhanced, and while its security features are strong, the absence of native Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a recognized limitation. Performance, while generally robust, is highly dependent on meticulous system sizing and JVM tuning, which can be a complex task for administrators. The continuous emergence of new vulnerabilities necessitates a proactive approach to patching and secure configuration to maintain optimal security.

PingFederate is ideally suited for medium to large enterprises in sectors such as banking, healthcare, retail, and education that require a scalable, secure, and standards-based identity management solution. It is particularly effective for organizations looking to streamline user access, enforce strong authentication policies, and manage identities across complex, hybrid IT environments. Regular updates and adherence to Ping Identity's support policies are crucial for maximizing its benefits and ensuring long-term operational stability.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.