From which perspective should one write a rule in policy management?

Writing a rule in policy management from the perspective of the destination workload, also known as the provider, is essential because it reflects the intended recipient of the data or service requests. This approach ensures that the policies are constructed based on the security requirements and operational functions of the destination workload. By focusing on how the destination receives and processes requests, the rules can effectively specify what types of traffic are allowed, establishing a proactive security posture.

Additionally, this perspective allows for clearer delineation of permissions and access controls. Understanding the destination’s role and its interactions with source workloads will aid in creating precise rules that directly protect the critical resources and services provided by that workload. This practice enhances security posture while promoting a comprehensive view of application dependencies and communication flows within an organization’s environment.

This perspective contrasts with other viewpoints, such as the source workload or network admin. The source workload’s view focuses on what it is trying to communicate, which could lead to more permissive policies that inadvertently create vulnerabilities. The network administrator's perspective tends to prioritize network-level controls, which might miss the nuances of workload-specific needs and security. Hence, approaching policy writing from the viewpoint of the destination workload helps align security policies with actual data flows and service requirements.