---
title: Importing and exporting policies
description: PingAuthorize supports two import and export file formats for Trust Framework and policy data.
component: pingauthorize
version: 11.0
page_id: pingauthorize:pingauthorize_server_administration_guide:paz_import_export_policies
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingauthorize/11.0/pingauthorize_server_administration_guide/paz_import_export_policies.html
revdate: April 28, 2025
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  loading_policy_snapshot: Loading a policy snapshot
  about-this-task-2: About this task
  steps: Steps
  export_policy_snapshot: Exporting a policy snapshot
  about-this-task-3: About this task
  steps-2: Steps
  result: Result
---

# Importing and exporting policies

PingAuthorize supports two import and export file formats for Trust Framework and policy data.

## About this task

The following table describes the snapshot and deployment package formats.

| Format             | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Snapshot           | Contains all Trust Framework and policy data for a policy branch in the Policy Editor.Use a snapshot to load data into the Policy Editor for policy development using external policy decision point (PDP) mode.                                                  |
| Deployment package | An optimized data format that contains all policies under a specified root policy node and all Trust Framework entities used by those policies.Use a deployment package to load data into the PingAuthorize Server for policy deployment using embedded PDP mode. |

The following sections describe how to import and export policy snapshots using the Policy Editor. See [Exporting a policy deployment package](paz_export_deployment_package.html) and [Using the Deployment Manager](paz_deployment_manager.html) for more information on deployment packages.

## Loading a policy snapshot

To import a policy snapshot into the Policy Editor for policy development, complete the following steps.

### About this task

To create a new policy branch with the Trust Framework and policies of the provided snapshot:

### Steps

1. Go to the Branch Manager section.

2. Click the Version Control tab.

3. In the [icon: plus, set=fa]menu, select Import Snapshot.

   ![Screen capture of the Import Snapshot button.](_images/mzb1585649223055.png)

4. Select a snapshot file and provide a name for your policy branch.

   ![Screen capture of the Import Snapshot fields.](_images/ffu1585649471997.png)

5. **Optional:** Click Commit New Changes to commit the initial state of the policy branch.

## Exporting a policy snapshot

### About this task

To import a policy snapshot into a different Policy Editor or use it as the basis to create a deployment package to be loaded in the PingAuthorize Server:

### Steps

1. Go to the **Branch Manager** section.

2. Select the **Version Control** tab.

3. Choose the commit message corresponding to the version of the branch that you want to export and click the icon in the **Options** column to the left of the commit message.

4. Select **Export Snapshot**.

   ![Screen capture of the Export Snapshot option in the My Policies window](_images/sgc1585650517817.png)

5. Provide a snapshot filename and click **Export**.

### Result

The snapshot file is downloaded to your computer.