PolicyDefinitions

PolicyDefinitions are machine-readable artifacts used in policy management systems to describe enforceable rules. Each definition encodes the policy's intent, metadata, and the logic that determines whether the policy is satisfied. Typical metadata includes a unique identifier, name, description, category, version, author, and last updated timestamp.

Policy definitions are used to standardize how policies are authored, reviewed, and enforced across systems. They enable consistent governance, compliance reporting, and automated enforcement by policy engines. Common domains include security baselines, configuration management, access controls, data handling, and regulatory compliance.

Common components include: policyId, name, description, type (such as allow, deny, audit), scope or targeting, parameters, constraints or conditions, and the expected outcome or effect. They may also include version history, documentation links, and references to standards.

Policy definitions reside in a policy repository or catalog. They are versioned, published to a policy store, and assigned to subjects such as users, groups, systems, or resources. A policy engine evaluates resources against definitions and produces compliance results, alerts, or remediation actions.

In practice, policy definitions are central to policy as code and governance platforms, enabling scalable administration of rules, repeatable audits, and automated enforcement across diverse environments.