How to Automate Ping Identity Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

Ping Identity provides identity and access management (PingFederate, PingAccess, PingDirectory, PingCentral, and related products) used for SSO, MFA, and directory services. While Ping offers APIs and admin tools, browser automation provides a powerful solution for identity config export and audit, log exports, and SIEM sync when direct API access is limited or when admins rely on the Ping admin web UI.

Why Use Browser Automation for Ping Identity Data Export?

• Limited API Access: Ping has restricted API access for many config and bulk export operations
• Config: Export and audit identity config—connections, adapters, policies, and certificate settings—for change management
• Log Exports: Export access logs, audit logs, and event data by product and date range when API or syslog is limited
• SIEM Sync: Pull logs and config data in formats suitable for SIEM and security analytics
• Dashboard-Only Features: Many admin and report views are only available through the web console
• Historical Data: Easier access to older logs and config history beyond API limits
• Multi-Product: Collect data across PingFederate, PingAccess, PingDirectory in one workflow
• Compliance and Audit: Align Ping data with security and access governance requirements

Setting Up Ping Identity Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate data collection from Ping Identity admin using browser automation:

import { chromium } from 'playwright';

const response = await fetch("https://api.anchorbrowser.io/api/sessions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "anchor-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    'headless': false,
    'proxy': {
      'type': 'residential',
      'country': 'US'
    }
  }),
});

const { id } = await response.json();
const connectionString = `wss://connect.anchorbrowser.io?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&sessionId=${id}`;

const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionString);
const context = browser.contexts()[0];
const ai = context.serviceWorkers()[0];
const page = context.pages()[0];

// Navigate to Ping admin (PingFederate, PingCentral, or your Ping admin URL)
await page.goto("https://your-ping-admin.example.com");

// Login with AI agent
await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to Ping Identity admin console using the provided credentials. Complete MFA if required and wait for the admin dashboard to load.'
}));

Use Case 1: Config

Export and audit identity configuration for change management:

const exportPingConfig = async (page, ai, criteria) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Configuration, Connections, or Settings section in Ping admin (e.g., PingFederate Admin or PingCentral)'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select product or component: ${criteria.product || 'all'}. Open config view for connections, adapters, or policies.`
  }));
  
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  const configData = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract config summary: connection names, adapters, policy names, certificate info. Return as structured JSON.'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export or download config if an export option is available. Otherwise return extracted data.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 15000 }).catch(() => null);
  return {
    config: typeof configData === 'string' ? JSON.parse(configData) : configData,
    exportPath: download ? await download.path() : null,
    exportedAt: new Date().toISOString()
  };
};

Use Case 2: Log Exports

Export access logs, audit logs, and event data by product and date range:

const exportPingLogs = async (page, ai, criteria) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Logs, Audit, or Reports section in Ping admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set date range ${criteria.startDate} to ${criteria.endDate}, log type ${criteria.logType || 'access/audit'}, product ${criteria.product || 'all'}. Run or filter.`
  }));
  
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export logs. Click Export or Download. Wait for CSV, JSON, or log file download.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 20000 }).catch(() => null);
  return {
    exportPath: download ? await download.path() : null,
    logType: criteria.logType,
    exportedAt: new Date().toISOString()
  };
};

Use Case 3: SIEM Sync

Pull logs and config data in formats suitable for SIEM and security analytics:

const exportPingForSIEM = async (page, ai, criteria) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Logs or Audit section in Ping admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set date range ${criteria.startDate} to ${criteria.endDate}. Select log types needed for SIEM (access, auth, admin, errors). Export.`
  }));
  
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  const logData = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract log entries visible on screen: timestamp, event type, user/session, result, source. Return as structured JSON array (or confirm export path).'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Download log export in format suitable for SIEM (CSV, JSON, or syslog-style). Wait for file.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 20000 }).catch(() => null);
  return {
    logPreview: typeof logData === 'string' ? JSON.parse(logData) : logData,
    exportPath: download ? await download.path() : null,
    exportedAt: new Date().toISOString()
  };
};

Exporting User and Session Data

Extract user list and session data for access reviews:

const exportPingUsersAndSessions = async (page, ai, criteria) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Users, Sessions, or Directory section in Ping admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set filters: ${criteria.filter || 'none'}. Run search or report. Export user list or active sessions if available.`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export user/session data. Wait for CSV or JSON download.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 15000 }).catch(() => null);
  return download ? await download.path() : null;
};

Best Practices for Ping Identity Automation

• Security: Use least-privilege admin accounts and secure credential storage; Ping holds sensitive identity and log data
• Rate Limiting: Add delays between config and log export requests to avoid overwhelming the admin console
• Config: Export config for backup and change audit before making bulk changes
• Log Exports: Schedule log exports to align with SIEM retention and compliance needs
• SIEM Sync: Use automation when API or syslog push is not available or needs supplementing
• Error Handling: Implement retry logic for session timeouts and large log exports
• Interface Updates: Monitor for Ping admin UI changes and update scripts as needed
• Compliance: Ensure automation and data handling align with identity and security governance requirements

Handling Authentication

Ping Identity admin typically requires an admin account and often MFA. Here's how to handle it:

const handlePingAuth = async (page, ai, credentials) => {
  await page.goto("https://your-ping-admin.example.com");
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Enter username ${credentials.username} and password, then click Sign In`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'If MFA is required, complete the challenge. Wait for admin dashboard to load.'
  }));
  
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
};

Resources

• Anchor Browser Documentation - Complete API reference and guides
• Anchor Browser Playground - Try browser automation in your browser

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible alternative to API access for Ping Identity data export. By using intelligent browser agents, you can automate identity config export and audit, log exports, and SIEM sync directly from the Ping admin web UI. Whether you need config data for change management, access and audit logs for compliance, or log data for SIEM and security analytics, browser automation enables efficient identity management workflows when API access is limited or when admins work in the console.

Start automating your Ping Identity data collection today and streamline config, log exports, and SIEM sync.