---
title: "Edit a policy"
description: "Change a custom policy as your standards change."
product: "Guardian"
edition: "Classic"
type: "workflow"
url: "https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/control/policies/edit-policy/"
---
# Edit a policy

Policies allow you to define a desired configuration state at the node or node group level. As your inventory evolves, however, you may need to edit a custom policy to reflect your most up-to-date standards. To learn how to add additional checks to a policy, see [Build Custom Policy](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/control/policies/build-custom-policy/index.md).

Applies to: `Guardian Classic`

**To edit a custom policy, complete the following steps**:

1. In the Guardian web application, navigate to the **Policies** tab (**Control** > **Policies**).

    !!! note

        By default, the **Custom** tab is displayed when you click the **Policies** tab. This process assumes that the **Custom** tab has been selected, as you cannot edit public policies.

    ![Custom policy](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/policies/custom-policy.png)

2. Click the **View** drop-down list, then select **Edit**. The **Edit Policy** page is displayed.

    ![View drop down](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/policies/edit/view-drop-down.png)

3. Here, the following options are displayed. Edit as required:

    ![Edit policy page](https://docs.cloudhouse.com/guardian/classic/assets/images/guardian/control/policies/edit/edit-policy-page.png)

**Name** field
:   The display name for the policy within Guardian. This name is how you will identify the policy among all others configured in your Guardian instance, so ensure it is descriptive.

**Target Configuration (Optional)** drop-down list
:   The target configuration state to be scanned for this policy.

    !!! note

        This option is only applicable for certain network devices where multiple configuration states are scanned.

    The following options are available to select:

    - 'Stored' – The saved configuration state.
    - 'Running' – The currently active state.
    - 'Merged' – The merged configuration state.

    !!! note

        This option is only applicable for devices that retrieve configuration data from multiple sources.

**Description** field
:   A description of the policy checks being run.

4. Once complete, click to **Update Policy**. The policy is then updated and displayed.