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[Security][Quality] Improve docs for Security detections and alerts#5253

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nastasha-solomon wants to merge 91 commits intomainfrom
issue-797
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[Security][Quality] Improve docs for Security detections and alerts#5253
nastasha-solomon wants to merge 91 commits intomainfrom
issue-797

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@nastasha-solomon nastasha-solomon commented Feb 21, 2026

Summary

Restructures the Detections and alerts section. Significant changes include: reduced duplication, improved navigation and cross-linking, more audience-centric guidance, and extensible structures.

The new structure:

Detections and alerts
├── Before you begin
│   ├── Turn on detections
│   ├── Detections privileges
│   ├── Detection rule concepts
│   └── Advanced data source configuration
│       ├── Cross-cluster search detection rules
│       └── Using LogsDB index mode with Elastic Security
│
├── MITRE ATT&CK coverage
│
├── Prebuilt rules
│   ├── Install prebuilt rules
│   ├── Update prebuilt rules
│   ├── Prebuilt rules in air-gapped environments
│   └── Customize prebuilt rules
│
├── Author rules
│   ├── Choose the right rule type
│   │   └── About building block rules
│   ├── Rule types
│   │   ├── ES|QL
│   │   ├── Custom query
│   │   ├── EQL
│   │   ├── Indicator match
│   │   ├── New terms
│   │   └── Machine learning
│   │   └── Threshold
│   ├── Using the UI
│   ├── Using the API
│   ├── Common rule settings
│   ├── Set rule data sources
│   ├── Write investigation guides
│   └── Validate and test rules
│
├── Manage detection rules
│
├── Monitor rule executions
│   └── Fill rule execution gaps
│
├── Reduce noise and false positives
│   ├── Tune detection rules
│   ├── Rule exceptions
│   │   ├── Create and manage value lists
│   │   ├── Add and manage exceptions
│   │   └── Create and manage shared exception lists
│   └── Alert suppression
│
└── Manage detection alerts
    ├── Visualize detection alerts
    ├── View detection alert details
    ├── Add detection alerts to cases
    └── Query alert indices

This PR addresses https://github.com/elastic/docs-content-internal/issues/797, which is the main issue tracking quality improvements to the Security detection docs. It also addresses some gaps and doc bugs that have been sitting in the backlog for 3453485384953794348 years.

Review requests

For technical reviewers

Please verify accuracy in the following areas:

Rule type pages (new)

Please review the following pages for accuracy and completeness. Most of the content is a direct port. The net-new content is fairly limited.

(Fixes https://github.com/elastic/docs-content-internal/issues/239 by creating individual configuration guides for each rule type.)

Reference and decision guides (new or heavily rewritten to improve clarity and findability)

Page What to verify
Detections and alerts The sections about where to start and the detection program lifecycle for accuracy and fixes added for #1210
Detection rule concepts Mental model for rules, key component explanations, and glossary
Common rule settings All shared field descriptions for completeness and accuracy
Choose the right rule type Comparison table accuracy
Reduce noise and false positives Decision table, key distinctions table, scenario walkthrough
Using the API API endpoint paths and links for Stack and Serverless

Other rewritten pages

Page What to verify
Write investigation guides Markdown syntax table, Osquery steps, best practices
Set rule data sources Per-rule index pattern behavior, cold/frozen tier filter accuracy
Validate and test rules DaC workflow accuracy
Suppress detection alerts Info added to fix #1545 and https://github.com/elastic/security-docs-internal/issues/22
Prebuilt rules Info added to fix elastic/security-docs#3035, elastic/kibana#109016, #3994
Create and manage value lists Info added to fix elastic/security-docs#3754 and elastic/security-docs#4929

For editorial reviewers

Please check the following items for logical flow and navigation between pages and glaring style/formatting errors.

Hub pages
Please spot-check navigation and descriptions for the following:

Restructured pages

Prebuilt rules pages
Content from Use Elastic prebuilt rules and Update modified and unmodified Elastic prebuilt rules was moved around into three buckets: install, update, and customize prebuilt rule. To help convey capabilities provided at certain subscription levels, added comparison tables and specified when certain flows were gated behind subscriptions.

Generative AI disclosure

  1. Did you use a generative AI (GenAI) tool to assist in creating this contribution?
  • Yes
  • No

Cursor, Claude

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github-actions bot commented Feb 21, 2026

Vale Linting Results

Summary: 9 warnings, 55 suggestions found

⚠️ Warnings (9)
File Line Rule Message
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/common-rule-settings.md 117 Elastic.Spelling 'subtechniques' is a possible misspelling.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/esql.md 23 Elastic.DontUse Don't use '...'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/esql.md 162 Elastic.DontUse Don't use '...'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/indicator-match.md 16 Elastic.Spelling 'operationalizing' is a possible misspelling.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/prebuilt-rules-airgapped.md 21 Elastic.Spelling 'prebundled' is a possible misspelling.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/query-alert-indices.md 63 Elastic.Spelling 'triaged' is a possible misspelling.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/validate-and-test-rules.md 24 Elastic.Spelling 'auditability' is a possible misspelling.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 40 Elastic.Latinisms Latin terms and abbreviations are a common source of confusion. Use 'and so on' instead of 'etc'.
troubleshoot/security/detection-rules.md 192 Elastic.DontUse Don't use 'note that'.
💡 Suggestions (55)
File Line Rule Message
explore-analyze/alerting/alerts/rule-types.md 16 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'refer to (if it's a document), view (if it's a UI element)' instead of 'see', unless the term is in the UI.
reference/glossary/index.md 259 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'refer to (if it's a document), view (if it's a UI element)' instead of 'See', unless the term is in the UI.
reference/glossary/index.md 425 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'to' instead of 'in order to'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/about-building-block-rules.md 20 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/common-rule-settings.md 202 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/common-rule-settings.md 281 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'refer to (if it's a document), view (if it's a UI element)' instead of 'see', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/common-rule-settings.md 291 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'because' instead of 'since'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/custom-query.md 22 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'efficient, basic' instead of 'simple', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/custom-query.md 92 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 32 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 65 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'tell' instead of 'inform'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 85 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'Execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 87 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'Execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 111 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/detection-rule-concepts.md 135 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/esql.md 23 Elastic.Ellipses In general, don't use an ellipsis.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/esql.md 162 Elastic.Ellipses In general, don't use an ellipsis.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/fill-rule-gaps.md 15 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'efficiently' instead of 'simply', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/indicator-match.md 20 Elastic.Semicolons Use semicolons judiciously.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/indicator-match.md 20 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'all' instead of 'all of '.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/indicator-match.md 20 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/indicator-match.md 133 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/manage-detection-alerts.md 153 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'run, start' instead of 'Execute', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/manage-detection-rules.md 82 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'deactivate, deselect, hide, turn off' instead of 'disable', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/manage-detection-rules.md 84 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'deactivate, deselect, hide, turn off' instead of 'Disable', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/manage-detection-rules.md 94 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'deactivate, deselect, hide, turn off' instead of 'disable', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/manage-detection-rules.md 185 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/mitre-attack-coverage.md 79 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'deactivated, deselected, hidden, turned off, unavailable' instead of 'disabled', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/new-terms.md 83 Elastic.HeadingColons Capitalize ': f'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/new-terms.md 111 Elastic.HeadingColons Capitalize ': n'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/new-terms.md 135 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/prebuilt-rules-airgapped.md 231 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/prebuilt-rules.md 34 Elastic.Semicolons Use semicolons judiciously.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/prebuilt-rules.md 80 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/prebuilt-rules.md 80 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/query-alert-indices.md 43 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'all' instead of 'all of '.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/reduce-noise-and-false-positives.md 47 Elastic.FirstPerson Use caution when using first-person pronouns such as 'my.'
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/reduce-noise-and-false-positives.md 92 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'all' instead of 'all of '.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/reduce-noise-and-false-positives.md 104 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/reduce-noise-and-false-positives.md 104 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/set-rule-data-sources.md 40 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/set-rule-data-sources.md 62 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/using-the-rule-builder.md 69 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'deactivate, deselect, hide, turn off' instead of 'disable', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 19 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'act' instead of 'Take action'.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 151 Elastic.Versions Use 'or later' instead of 'or higher' when referring to versions.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 198 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 227 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'refer to (if it's a document), view (if it's a UI element)' instead of 'See', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 228 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 230 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/view-detection-alert-details.md 231 Elastic.Versions Use 'or later' instead of 'or higher' when referring to versions.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/visualize-detection-alerts.md 117 Elastic.Semicolons Use semicolons judiciously.
solutions/security/detect-and-alert/visualize-detection-alerts.md 152 Elastic.WordChoice Consider using 'can, might' instead of 'may', unless the term is in the UI.
solutions/security/get-started/automatic-migration.md 138 Elastic.Repetition "the" is repeated.
solutions/security/get-started/configure-advanced-settings.md 93 Elastic.Semicolons Use semicolons judiciously.
troubleshoot/security/detection-rules.md 206 Elastic.Wordiness Consider using 'also' instead of 'In addition'.

The Vale linter checks documentation changes against the Elastic Docs style guide.

To use Vale locally or report issues, refer to Elastic style guide for Vale.

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github-actions bot commented Feb 21, 2026

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@nastasha-solomon
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f47b72e adds annotated examples to all rule type guides. Thanks again @Mikaayenson for your help with this!

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This is an awesome undertaking thank you @nastasha-solomon! I left some nits. LGTM!

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