A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for effectively reducing a complicated problem space to enable faster implementation of system management software, and in particular, policy management for security software. The policy management tool of the present invention receives input from a user to configure a policy model, wherein the policy model is configured according to a set of policy requirements. The policy management tool presents a graphical view of a policy model according to the input from the user, wherein the graphical view allows the user to visualize internals of the policy model as a whole. The policy management tool performs validations on the policy model against requirements of the set of policy requirements. A simulation of the policy model may then be performed to determine the validity of the policy model and generate real test results feedback at a time the policy model is configured.