1. A machine-implemented method of securing a document, the method comprising: receiving security policy definitions of multiple, distinct security policies; presenting labels of the multiple, distinct security policies, each security policy specifying criteria that govern use of an electronic document and having an associated security mechanism that distinctly secures an electronic document, wherein the labels include usage abstractions that describe situations in which to use the security policies without describing details of the associated security mechanisms, the usage abstractions being included in the security policy definitions and being presented prior to receiving a selection corresponding to at least one of the multiple security policies; receiving input specifying a selected security policy; and securing a first document according to the selected security policy.