1. A processor-based method of applying a policy with a system, comprising: operating one or more processors to implement software modules of the system,  wherein implementing comprises: identifying a first entity and a first relationship, the first relationship defining an attribute related to the first entity; identifying a policy associated with the first entity and the first relationship; applying semantics to determine a degree of relatedness between the first entity and a second entity; and applying the policy to a second relationship that defines an attribute related to the second entity if the degree of relatedness between the first entity and the second entity is within a specific range of values, wherein the first and second entities are network components.