diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/filter.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/filter.go
index 338e513b..8dac82ae 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/filter.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/filter.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func (pol *Policy) compileFilterRules(
 	var rules []tailcfg.FilterRule
 
 	for _, acl := range pol.ACLs {
-		if acl.Action != "accept" {
+		if acl.Action != ActionAccept {
 			return nil, ErrInvalidAction
 		}
 
@@ -41,12 +41,7 @@ func (pol *Policy) compileFilterRules(
 			continue
 		}
 
-		// TODO(kradalby): integrate type into schema
-		// TODO(kradalby): figure out the _ is wildcard stuff
-		protocols, _, err := parseProtocol(acl.Protocol)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("parsing policy, protocol err: %w ", err)
-		}
+		protocols, _ := acl.Protocol.parseProtocol()
 
 		var destPorts []tailcfg.NetPortRange
 		for _, dest := range acl.Destinations {
diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/types.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/types.go
index 59e297a9..f400b9c5 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/types.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/types.go
@@ -1242,9 +1242,214 @@ func resolveAutoApprovers(p *Policy, users types.Users, nodes views.Slice[types.
 	return ret, exitNodeSet, nil
 }
 
+// Action represents the action to take for an ACL rule.
+type Action string
+
+const (
+	ActionAccept Action = "accept"
+)
+
+// String returns the string representation of the Action.
+func (a Action) String() string {
+	return string(a)
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON implements JSON unmarshaling for Action.
+func (a *Action) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
+	str := strings.Trim(string(b), `"`)
+	switch str {
+	case "accept":
+		*a = ActionAccept
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid action %q, must be %q", str, ActionAccept)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// MarshalJSON implements JSON marshaling for Action.
+func (a Action) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(string(a))
+}
+
+// Protocol represents a network protocol with its IANA number and descriptions.
+type Protocol string
+
+const (
+	ProtocolICMP     Protocol = "icmp"
+	ProtocolIGMP     Protocol = "igmp"
+	ProtocolIPv4     Protocol = "ipv4"
+	ProtocolIPInIP   Protocol = "ip-in-ip"
+	ProtocolTCP      Protocol = "tcp"
+	ProtocolEGP      Protocol = "egp"
+	ProtocolIGP      Protocol = "igp"
+	ProtocolUDP      Protocol = "udp"
+	ProtocolGRE      Protocol = "gre"
+	ProtocolESP      Protocol = "esp"
+	ProtocolAH       Protocol = "ah"
+	ProtocolIPv6ICMP Protocol = "ipv6-icmp"
+	ProtocolSCTP     Protocol = "sctp"
+	ProtocolFC       Protocol = "fc"
+	ProtocolWildcard Protocol = "*"
+)
+
+// String returns the string representation of the Protocol.
+func (p Protocol) String() string {
+	return string(p)
+}
+
+// Description returns the human-readable description of the Protocol.
+func (p Protocol) Description() string {
+	switch p {
+	case ProtocolICMP:
+		return "Internet Control Message Protocol"
+	case ProtocolIGMP:
+		return "Internet Group Management Protocol"
+	case ProtocolIPv4:
+		return "IPv4 encapsulation"
+	case ProtocolTCP:
+		return "Transmission Control Protocol"
+	case ProtocolEGP:
+		return "Exterior Gateway Protocol"
+	case ProtocolIGP:
+		return "Interior Gateway Protocol"
+	case ProtocolUDP:
+		return "User Datagram Protocol"
+	case ProtocolGRE:
+		return "Generic Routing Encapsulation"
+	case ProtocolESP:
+		return "Encapsulating Security Payload"
+	case ProtocolAH:
+		return "Authentication Header"
+	case ProtocolIPv6ICMP:
+		return "Internet Control Message Protocol for IPv6"
+	case ProtocolSCTP:
+		return "Stream Control Transmission Protocol"
+	case ProtocolFC:
+		return "Fibre Channel"
+	case ProtocolWildcard:
+		return "Wildcard (all protocols)"
+	default:
+		return "Unknown Protocol"
+	}
+}
+
+// parseProtocol converts a Protocol to its IANA protocol numbers and wildcard requirement.
+// Since validation happens during UnmarshalJSON, this method should not fail for valid Protocol values.
+func (p Protocol) parseProtocol() ([]int, bool) {
+	switch p {
+	case "":
+		return nil, false
+	case ProtocolWildcard:
+		// Wildcard protocol - allows all protocols like empty string
+		return nil, false
+	case ProtocolIGMP:
+		return []int{protocolIGMP}, true
+	case ProtocolIPv4, ProtocolIPInIP:
+		return []int{protocolIPv4}, true
+	case ProtocolTCP:
+		return []int{protocolTCP}, false
+	case ProtocolEGP:
+		return []int{protocolEGP}, true
+	case ProtocolIGP:
+		return []int{protocolIGP}, true
+	case ProtocolUDP:
+		return []int{protocolUDP}, false
+	case ProtocolGRE:
+		return []int{protocolGRE}, true
+	case ProtocolESP:
+		return []int{protocolESP}, true
+	case ProtocolAH:
+		return []int{protocolAH}, true
+	case ProtocolSCTP:
+		return []int{protocolSCTP}, false
+	case ProtocolICMP:
+		return []int{protocolICMP, protocolIPv6ICMP}, true
+	default:
+		// Try to parse as a numeric protocol number
+		// This should not fail since validation happened during unmarshaling
+		protocolNumber, _ := strconv.Atoi(string(p))
+
+		// Determine if wildcard is needed based on protocol number
+		needsWildcard := protocolNumber != protocolTCP &&
+			protocolNumber != protocolUDP &&
+			protocolNumber != protocolSCTP
+
+		return []int{protocolNumber}, needsWildcard
+	}
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON implements JSON unmarshaling for Protocol.
+func (p *Protocol) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
+	str := strings.Trim(string(b), `"`)
+
+	// Normalize to lowercase for case-insensitive matching
+	*p = Protocol(strings.ToLower(str))
+
+	// Validate the protocol
+	if err := p.validate(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// validate checks if the Protocol is valid.
+func (p Protocol) validate() error {
+	switch p {
+	case "", ProtocolICMP, ProtocolIGMP, ProtocolIPv4, ProtocolIPInIP,
+		ProtocolTCP, ProtocolEGP, ProtocolIGP, ProtocolUDP, ProtocolGRE,
+		ProtocolESP, ProtocolAH, ProtocolSCTP:
+		return nil
+	case ProtocolWildcard:
+		// Wildcard "*" is not allowed - Tailscale rejects it
+		return fmt.Errorf("proto name \"*\" not known; use protocol number 0-255 or protocol name (icmp, tcp, udp, etc.)")
+	default:
+		// Try to parse as a numeric protocol number
+		str := string(p)
+
+		// Check for leading zeros (not allowed by Tailscale)
+		if str == "0" || (len(str) > 1 && str[0] == '0') {
+			return fmt.Errorf("leading 0 not permitted in protocol number \"%s\"", str)
+		}
+
+		protocolNumber, err := strconv.Atoi(str)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid protocol %q: must be a known protocol name or valid protocol number 0-255", p)
+		}
+
+		if protocolNumber < 0 || protocolNumber > 255 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("protocol number %d out of range (0-255)", protocolNumber)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+// MarshalJSON implements JSON marshaling for Protocol.
+func (p Protocol) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(string(p))
+}
+
+// Protocol constants matching the IANA numbers
+const (
+	protocolICMP     = 1   // Internet Control Message
+	protocolIGMP     = 2   // Internet Group Management
+	protocolIPv4     = 4   // IPv4 encapsulation
+	protocolTCP      = 6   // Transmission Control
+	protocolEGP      = 8   // Exterior Gateway Protocol
+	protocolIGP      = 9   // any private interior gateway (used by Cisco for their IGRP)
+	protocolUDP      = 17  // User Datagram
+	protocolGRE      = 47  // Generic Routing Encapsulation
+	protocolESP      = 50  // Encap Security Payload
+	protocolAH       = 51  // Authentication Header
+	protocolIPv6ICMP = 58  // ICMP for IPv6
+	protocolSCTP     = 132 // Stream Control Transmission Protocol
+	protocolFC       = 133 // Fibre Channel
+)
+
 type ACL struct {
-	Action       string           `json:"action"` // TODO(kradalby): add strict type
-	Protocol     string           `json:"proto"`  // TODO(kradalby): add strict type
+	Action       Action           `json:"action"`
+	Protocol     Protocol         `json:"proto"`
 	Sources      Aliases          `json:"src"`
 	Destinations []AliasWithPorts `json:"dst"`
 }
diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/types_test.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/types_test.go
index 3669e790..d47c8cf5 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/types_test.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/types_test.go
@@ -2464,13 +2464,13 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_WithCommentFields(t *testing.T) {
 					"tags": ["web", "production"],
 					"created_by": "admin"
 				},
-				"action": "deny",
+				"action": "accept",
 				"proto": "udp",
 				"src": ["*"],
 				"dst": ["autogroup:internet:53"]
 			}`,
 			expected: ACL{
-				Action:   "deny",
+				Action:   ActionAccept,
 				Protocol: "udp",
 				Sources:  []Alias{Wildcard},
 				Destinations: []AliasWithPorts{
@@ -2482,6 +2482,16 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_WithCommentFields(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			wantErr: false,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid action should fail",
+			input: `{
+				"action": "deny",
+				"proto": "tcp",
+				"src": ["*"],
+				"dst": ["*:*"]
+			}`,
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
 		{
 			name: "no comment fields",
 			input: `{
@@ -2491,13 +2501,13 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_WithCommentFields(t *testing.T) {
 				"dst": ["tag:server:*"]
 			}`,
 			expected: ACL{
-				Action:   "accept",
+				Action:   ActionAccept,
 				Protocol: "icmp",
 				Sources:  []Alias{mustParseAlias("tag:client")},
 				Destinations: []AliasWithPorts{
 					{
 						Alias: mustParseAlias("tag:server"),
-						Ports: []tailcfg.PortRange{{First: 0, Last: 65535}},
+						Ports: []tailcfg.PortRange{tailcfg.PortRangeAny},
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -2510,8 +2520,8 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_WithCommentFields(t *testing.T) {
 				"#reason": "Temporary disable for maintenance"
 			}`,
 			expected: ACL{
-				Action:       "",
-				Protocol:     "",
+				Action:       Action(""),
+				Protocol:     Protocol(""),
 				Sources:      nil,
 				Destinations: nil,
 			},
@@ -2623,9 +2633,9 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_PolicyIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 				"dst": ["tag:server:22,80,443"]
 			},
 			{
-				"#note": "Deny all other traffic",
-				"action": "deny",
-				"proto": "*",
+				"#note": "Allow all other traffic",
+				"action": "accept",
+				"proto": "tcp",
 				"src": ["*"],
 				"dst": ["*:*"]
 			}
@@ -2641,19 +2651,37 @@ func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_PolicyIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// First ACL
 	acl1 := policy.ACLs[0]
-	assert.Equal(t, "accept", acl1.Action)
-	assert.Equal(t, "tcp", acl1.Protocol)
+	assert.Equal(t, ActionAccept, acl1.Action)
+	assert.Equal(t, Protocol("tcp"), acl1.Protocol)
 	require.Len(t, acl1.Sources, 1)
 	require.Len(t, acl1.Destinations, 1)
 
 	// Second ACL
 	acl2 := policy.ACLs[1]
-	assert.Equal(t, "deny", acl2.Action)
-	assert.Equal(t, "*", acl2.Protocol)
+	assert.Equal(t, ActionAccept, acl2.Action)
+	assert.Equal(t, Protocol("tcp"), acl2.Protocol)
 	require.Len(t, acl2.Sources, 1)
 	require.Len(t, acl2.Destinations, 1)
 }
 
+func TestACL_UnmarshalJSON_InvalidAction(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test that invalid actions are rejected
+	policyJSON := `{
+		"acls": [
+			{
+				"action": "deny",
+				"proto": "tcp",
+				"src": ["*"],
+				"dst": ["*:*"]
+			}
+		]
+	}`
+
+	_, err := unmarshalPolicy([]byte(policyJSON))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), `invalid action "deny"`)
+}
+
 // Helper function to parse aliases for testing
 func mustParseAlias(s string) Alias {
 	alias, err := parseAlias(s)
diff --git a/hscontrol/policy/v2/utils.go b/hscontrol/policy/v2/utils.go
index 2c551eda..7482c97b 100644
--- a/hscontrol/policy/v2/utils.go
+++ b/hscontrol/policy/v2/utils.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package v2
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -97,72 +96,3 @@ func parsePort(portStr string) (uint16, error) {
 
 	return uint16(port), nil
 }
-
-// For some reason golang.org/x/net/internal/iana is an internal package.
-const (
-	protocolICMP     = 1   // Internet Control Message
-	protocolIGMP     = 2   // Internet Group Management
-	protocolIPv4     = 4   // IPv4 encapsulation
-	protocolTCP      = 6   // Transmission Control
-	protocolEGP      = 8   // Exterior Gateway Protocol
-	protocolIGP      = 9   // any private interior gateway (used by Cisco for their IGRP)
-	protocolUDP      = 17  // User Datagram
-	protocolGRE      = 47  // Generic Routing Encapsulation
-	protocolESP      = 50  // Encap Security Payload
-	protocolAH       = 51  // Authentication Header
-	protocolIPv6ICMP = 58  // ICMP for IPv6
-	protocolSCTP     = 132 // Stream Control Transmission Protocol
-	ProtocolFC       = 133 // Fibre Channel
-)
-
-// parseProtocol reads the proto field of the ACL and generates a list of
-// protocols that will be allowed, following the IANA IP protocol number
-// https://www.iana.org/assignments/protocol-numbers/protocol-numbers.xhtml
-//
-// If the ACL proto field is empty, it allows ICMPv4, ICMPv6, TCP, and UDP,
-// as per Tailscale behaviour (see tailcfg.FilterRule).
-//
-// Also returns a boolean indicating if the protocol
-// requires all the destinations to use wildcard as port number (only TCP,
-// UDP and SCTP support specifying ports).
-func parseProtocol(protocol string) ([]int, bool, error) {
-	switch protocol {
-	case "":
-		return nil, false, nil
-	case "igmp":
-		return []int{protocolIGMP}, true, nil
-	case "ipv4", "ip-in-ip":
-		return []int{protocolIPv4}, true, nil
-	case "tcp":
-		return []int{protocolTCP}, false, nil
-	case "egp":
-		return []int{protocolEGP}, true, nil
-	case "igp":
-		return []int{protocolIGP}, true, nil
-	case "udp":
-		return []int{protocolUDP}, false, nil
-	case "gre":
-		return []int{protocolGRE}, true, nil
-	case "esp":
-		return []int{protocolESP}, true, nil
-	case "ah":
-		return []int{protocolAH}, true, nil
-	case "sctp":
-		return []int{protocolSCTP}, false, nil
-	case "icmp":
-		return []int{protocolICMP, protocolIPv6ICMP}, true, nil
-
-	default:
-		protocolNumber, err := strconv.Atoi(protocol)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("parsing protocol number: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		// TODO(kradalby): What is this?
-		needsWildcard := protocolNumber != protocolTCP &&
-			protocolNumber != protocolUDP &&
-			protocolNumber != protocolSCTP
-
-		return []int{protocolNumber}, needsWildcard, nil
-	}
-}