# BEST practice for profiles

**URL:** <https://discourse.chef.io/t/best-practice-for-profiles/11705>\
**Category:** Chef InSpec\
**Created:** [October 7, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/best-practice-for-profiles/11705 "2017-10-07T11:40:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bkeshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@bkeshark](https://discourse.chef.io/u/bkeshark)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/best-practice-for-profiles/11705/1 "2017-10-07T11:40:29Z")

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Hi All,  
I am writing inspec profiles for some of our tools.  
planning to categories at high level as per below.

1. Generic validation of the system.
2. Tool installation readiness validation
3. Post installation validation
4. Tool upgrade readiness validation
5. Post upgrade validation  
each will have some validation tests (10+ TC) to be verified based on scenario.

i would like to know if it would be good

1. 5 different controls and write multiple tests in a control in same file
2. write single test case per control.

any best option please suggest.

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**Author:** ![simark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.chef.io/simark/32/2099_2.png) [@simark](https://discourse.chef.io/u/simark)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/best-practice-for-profiles/11705/2 "2017-10-07T11:53:26Z")

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From a structural point of view, a control is the atomic part in InSpec. A control can contain multiple resources but the control itself can be included/excluded when there is a profile inheritance.  
Read the following blog post and maybe that would give a direction for you.

> **[Understanding InSpec Profile Inheritance - Chef Blog](https://blog.chef.io/2017/07/06/understanding-inspec-profile-inheritance/)**
>
> InSpec profile inheritance helps keep profile sprawl to a minimum and promotes profile reuse and creation of reusable profiles.