1. A system for generating a rule pack comprising a plurality of monitoring rules for monitoring a computer, wherein a monitoring rule specifies an action to take in response to an event occurring in said computer, said system comprising: a subsystem for receiving a plurality of monitoring rules, said plurality of monitoring rules specified in a markup language; a subsystem for combining said plurality of monitoring rules to produce a rule pack; a subsystem for adding to said rule pack at least one common setting, wherein a common setting applies to two or more monitoring rules in said rule pack, and wherein said at least one common setting is specified in a markup language; and a subsystem for converting said rule pack from a markup language to a binary file for use by a monitoring service.