diff --git a/lib/resources/os.rb b/lib/resources/os.rb
index c30cead09..667946d1f 100644
--- a/lib/resources/os.rb
+++ b/lib/resources/os.rb
@@ -7,9 +7,17 @@ module Inspec::Resources
     name 'os'
     desc 'Use the os InSpec audit resource to test the platform on which the system is running.'
     example "
-      describe os[:family] do
+      describe os.family do
         it { should eq 'redhat' }
       end
+
+      describe os.redhat? do
+        it { should eq true }
+      end
+
+      describe os.linux? do
+        it { should eq true }
+      end
     "
 
     # reuse helper methods from backend
@@ -25,6 +33,15 @@ module Inspec::Resources
       inspec.backend.os[name]
     end
 
+    # add helper methods for easy access of properties
+    # allows users to use os.name, os.family, os.release, os.arch
+    %w{name family release arch}.each do |property|
+      define_method(property.to_sym) do
+        inspec.backend.os[property.to_sym]
+      end
+    end
+
+    # helper to collect a hash object easily
     def params
       {
         name: inspec.backend.os[:name],