---
layout: "docs"
page_title: "Commands: sentinel apply"
sidebar_current: "docs-commands-sentinel-apply"
description: >
  The sentinel apply command is used to write a new, or update an existing, Sentinel policy.
---

# Command: sentinel apply

The `sentinel apply` command is used to write a new, or update an existing, Sentinel policy.

## Usage

```
nomad sentinel apply [options] <Policy Name> <Policy File>
```

The `sentinel apply` command requires two arguments, the policy name and the policy file.
The policy file can be read from stdin by specifying "-" as the file name.

## General Options

<%= partial "docs/commands/_general_options" %>

## Apply Options

* `-description` : Sets a human readable description for the policy

* `-scope` : (default: submit-job) Sets the scope of the policy and when it should be enforced.

* `-level` : (default: advisory) Sets the enforcment level of the policy. Must be one of advisory,
	soft-mandatory, hard-mandatory.

## Examples

Write a policy:

```
$ nomad sentinel write -description "My test policy" foo test.sentinel
Successfully wrote "foo" Sentinel policy!
```