> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ruler.nl/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ruler.nl/best-practices.md).

# Best practices

Ruler's recommendations for working with each part of the platform, collected in one place.

Throughout this documentation, **Ruler in practice** boxes give recommendations on how to work with a feature, as opposed to what the feature does. This page collects them.

## Follow up every relevant alert with a task

If an alert is relevant to your organisation, create a task to follow it up. Typical follow-up tasks are conducting an analysis of the change, creating a risk assessment, or reviewing the policies and procedures the change touches. The link between alert and task is your evidence that the change was seen and acted on. See [Scoring impact and archiving](/inbox/impact-and-archiving.md).

## Prepare for radar items in time

If a radar item is relevant to your institution, create a task so your organisation is prepared before the rule enters into force. Typical tasks are an impact analysis or a gap analysis. See [Radar](/legal-framework/radar.md).

## Assign new topics to departments

When the editors add a new topic to Ruler, it must be assigned to one or more departments before anyone can work on it. The administrator is responsible for this. Ruler's editors send an alert with an explanation whenever a new topic is added. See [The Legal Framework](/legal-framework.md).

## Keep the control measures library current

Whenever a policy or procedure is introduced or changed, update the library, and then check whether the change requires adjustments elsewhere in Ruler: a design and effectiveness assessment, or a risk assessment that relies on the measure. See [Control measures](/control-measures.md).

## Reassess risks periodically

A risk assessment identifies, classifies and prioritises the compliance risks the institution is exposed to. Reassess it periodically: adjust the gross and net probability and impact of existing risks, add, remove or change the linked control measures, and add new risks where needed. If a risk exceeds your risk appetite, create a task to mitigate it further, for example by developing or changing a policy or procedure. See [Risk assessments](/risks/risk-assessments.md).

## Verify that tasks were completed, and that it helped

As administrator, verify that tasks are actually completed by the people responsible, and that completing them led to the intended result, such as a mitigated risk. Where a task was not completed correctly or the result is insufficient, create a follow-up control task. See [Control](/control.md).