---
title: "Add a benchmark or policy to a node group"
description: "Apply a CIS benchmark or a custom policy to a node group."
product: "Guardian"
edition: "Classic"
type: "workflow"
url: "https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/control/benchmarks/actions/add-benchmarkpolicy-to-node-group/"
---
# Add a benchmark or policy to a node group

Apply a CIS benchmark or a custom policy to a node group. In addition to default benchmarks, Guardian also provides the opportunity to create custom [Policies](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/control/policies/policies/index.md) to define a desired configuration state at the node or node group level. Benchmarks and policies work identically to one another, the main difference being that benchmarks are related to CIS benchmarks whereas policies can be created and configured by any Guardian user from scratch or based on the results of a node scan, amongst other solutions.

Applies to: `Guardian Classic`

![Node group added](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/benchmarks/adding/node-group-added.png)

To add a benchmark/policy to a node group, complete the following steps:

1. In the **Benchmarks** tab (**Control** > **Benchmarks**) or the **Policies** tab (**Control** > **Policies**), select the benchmark you want to apply. The benchmark policy is then displayed in the **Policies** tab, with each of the checks included.

    !!! note

        Alternatively, you can select 'Add To Node Group' from the **View** drop-down list.

2. Click to **Add Node Group**. The **Select node groups** dialog is displayed.

    !!! note

        If any node groups are already applied to the selected benchmark/policy, they are displayed in the **Node Groups** drop-down menu.

    ![Benchmark policy display](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/benchmarks/adding/benchmark-policy-display.png)

3. **Select** a **Node Group** from the list displayed, or use the search box to filter your results.

    ![Select node groups](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/benchmarks/adding/select-node-groups.png)

4. Once selected, the node group is added to the **Node Groups** drop-down menu. You can add multiple node groups to the benchmark/policy at a time. Once complete, click to **Close** the dialog.

    ![Node group added](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/benchmarks/adding/node-group-added.png)

Alternatively, you can add a scheduled job to run a benchmark/policy against a node or node group according to a specified schedule. For more information, see [Benchmarks – Job Type](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/control/job-schedule/job-types/benchmarks-job-type/index.md).