---
title: Overview
description: Ping Advanced Identity Software is the only offering for access management, identity management, user-managed access, directory services, and an identity gateway, designed and built as a single, unified platform.
component: platform
version: 8
page_id: platform:sample-setup:preface
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/platform/8/sample-setup/preface.html
page_aliases: ["platform-setup-guide:index.adoc", "platform-setup-guide:preface.adoc", "index.adoc"]
section_ids:
  advanced_identity_software_setup_checklist: Advanced Identity Software setup checklist
---

# Overview

Ping Advanced Identity Software is the only offering for access management, identity management, user-managed access, directory services, and an identity gateway, designed and built as a single, unified platform.

Advanced Identity Software serves as the basis for our simple and comprehensive Identity and Access Management solution. We help our customers deepen their relationships with their customers, and improve the productivity and connectivity of their employees and partners. For more information about Advanced Identity Software, visit <https://www.pingidentity.com>.

The Common REST API works across Advanced Identity Software deployments to provide common ways to access web resources and collections of resources.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | This is *not* a comprehensive Advanced Identity Software implementation guide. These sample setup instructions show a minimal integration of Advanced Identity Software components to get you started.Ping Advanced Identity Software offers maximum extensibility and flexibility in self-managed deployments. Advanced Identity Software includes many features and options these sample setup instructions do not cover. If you don't need maximum extensibility and flexibility, there are simpler alternatives:- To consume the Advanced Identity Software as a service, use [PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingoneaic).

- To deploy in Kubernetes, start with the [ForgeOps](https://docs.pingidentity.com/forgeops/2025.1) reference implementation.For help with your deployment and to validate your plans before deploying in production, contact [Ping Identity](https://www.pingidentity.com). |

## Advanced Identity Software setup checklist

These topics show you how to set up Advanced Identity Software components in a self-managed deployment without using PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud or ForgeOps.

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Choose your sample](overview.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Prepare the servers](server-settings.html)

* Separate identity stores

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingDS](deployment1.html)

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingAM](am-setup-1.html)

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingIDM](idm-setup-1.html)

* Shared identity store

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingDS](deployment2.html)

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingAM](am-setup-2.html)

  * [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up PingIDM](idm-setup-2.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Protect the deployment](protect-deployment.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Set up the Platform UIs](platform-ui.html)

* [icon: square-o, set=fa][Test your deployment](test-deployment.html)