git:20260713.e03d6ea to git:20260727.118821d

42 added, 33 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: azure-security

- description: Expert knowledge for Azure Security development including best practices, decision making, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when securing Azure containers, Key Vault/HSM keys, firewalls, TLS/certs, or Gov vs commercial deployments, and other Azure Security related development tasks. Not for Azure Defender For Cloud (use azure-defender-for-cloud), Azure Sentinel (use azure-sentinel), Azure Firewall (use azure-firewall), Azure Web Application Firewall (use azure-web-application-firewall).

+ description: Expert knowledge for Azure Security development including best practices, decision making, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when configuring antimalware, container SBOM/signing, CMK encryption, Azure logging/auditing, or Lockbox alerts, and other Azure Security related development tasks. Not for Azure Defender For Cloud (use azure-defender-for-cloud), Azure Sentinel (use azure-sentinel), Azure DDos Protection (use azure-ddos-protection), Azure Web Application Firewall (use azure-web-application-firewall).

compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.

metadata:

- generated_at: "2026-07-12"

+ generated_at: "2026-07-26"

generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

---

# Azure Security Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Security. Covers best practices, decision making, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

## How to Use This Skill

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:

- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.

- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.

## Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description |

|----------|-------|-------------|

- | Best Practices | L34-L53 | Azure security hardening guidance for IaaS/PaaS: network, data, app, secrets, ransomware, incident response, and service‑specific checklists (SQL, Storage, App Service, Service Fabric). |

- | Decision Making | L54-L58 | Guidance on selecting Azure key management options (Key Vault, managed HSM, app-level keys), comparing security, compliance, performance, and integration trade-offs. |

- | Security | L59-L90 | Securing Azure workloads: threat modeling mitigations, identity/access, data protection, ransomware defense, firewall/antimalware, certificates, backup, and operational security best practices. |

- | Configuration | L91-L99 | Configuring Azure security features: container vulnerability tools, firewall rules via domain patterns, customer-managed encryption keys, security logging/auditing, and upcoming TLS/DCV changes. |

- | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L100-L104 | Guidance on generating signed SBOMs for container images, attaching them in CI/CD, and integrating software supply chain security into deployment workflows. |

- | Deployment | L105-L111 | Guides for signing and verifying container images with Notation in Azure Pipelines/GitHub Actions, plus comparing security feature availability in Azure vs Azure Government. |

+ | Best Practices | L34-L58 | End-to-end Azure security guidance: hardening IaaS/PaaS, identity and access, network and operational security, backups and ransomware resilience, secrets management, and service-specific checklists. |

+ | Decision Making | L59-L64 | Guidance on choosing Azure security options, including comparing security features in US Gov clouds and selecting appropriate key management (Key Vault, managed keys, BYOK). |

+ | Security | L65-L96 | Security best practices for Azure: platform integrity, hardware/firmware, network, data access, AKS, SQL, AI workloads, and Threat Modeling Tool–driven mitigations (auth, crypto, logging, etc.). |

+ | Configuration | L97-L108 | Configuring Azure security features: antimalware, container scanning (Dependabot/Copacetic), firewall rules, CMK encryption, logging/auditing, TLS changes, ransomware protections, and Customer Lockbox alerts. |

+ | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L109-L114 | Guides for generating signed SBOMs for container images and scripting Microsoft Antimalware configuration in Azure using PowerShell. |

+ | Deployment | L115-L120 | Guides for signing and verifying container images with Notation in Azure Pipelines/GitHub Actions, plus comparing security feature availability in Azure vs Azure Government. |

### Best Practices

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

| Harden Azure Marketplace images before publishing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/azure-marketplace-images |

+ | Design Azure backup and restore plans against ransomware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/backup-plan-to-protect-against-ransomware |

+ | Implement Azure security best practices and patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/best-practices-and-patterns |

| Apply Azure data security and encryption best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/data-encryption-best-practices |

| Use Azure SQL database security checklist | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/database-security-checklist |

| Secure Azure IaaS workloads and virtual machines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/iaas |

- | Implement Azure-specific incident response practices and tooling | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/incident-response-overview |

+ | Apply Azure identity and access control best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/identity-management-best-practices |

+ | Implement incident response processes for Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/incident-response-overview |

| Apply Azure network security best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/network-best-practices |

- | Apply operational security best practices for Azure assets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/operational-best-practices |

- | Secure Azure App Service web and mobile applications | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-applications-using-app-services |

+ | Apply Azure operational security best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/operational-best-practices |

+ | Secure Azure App Service PaaS applications | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-applications-using-app-services |

| Secure PaaS databases with Azure SQL and Synapse | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-applications-using-sql |

- | Secure PaaS web and mobile apps using Azure Storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-applications-using-storage |

+ | Secure PaaS applications using Azure Storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-applications-using-storage |

| Design and operate secure Azure PaaS deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/paas-deployments |

- | Prepare Azure environments to withstand ransomware attacks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-prepare |

- | Apply Azure-specific protections against ransomware attacks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-protection |

+ | Detect and respond to ransomware in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-detect-respond |

+ | Prepare Azure environments for ransomware resilience | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-prepare |

+ | Harden Azure Firewall Premium for ransomware defense | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-protection-with-azure-firewall |

| Protect and manage secrets in Azure workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/secrets-best-practices |

- | Apply security best practices to Azure Service Fabric | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/service-fabric-best-practices |

- | Prevent Azure subdomain takeover with DNS and App Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/subdomain-takeover |

+ | Harden Azure Service Fabric clusters and security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/service-fabric-best-practices |

+ | Implement Microsoft Entra identity security checklist | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/steps-secure-identity |

+ | Prevent Azure subdomain takeover via DNS hygiene | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/subdomain-takeover |

### Decision Making

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

+ | Compare security feature availability in US Government clouds | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/feature-availability |

| Choose the right Azure key management solution | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/key-management-choose |

### Security

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

| Enforce AKS image signature validation with Ratify and Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/validating-image-signatures-using-ratify-aks |

| Implement auditing and logging mitigations with Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-auditing-and-logging |

| Implement authentication mitigations with Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-authentication |

| Mitigate authorization threats in Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-authorization |

| Secure communications based on Threat Modeling Tool findings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-communication-security |

| Harden configuration management using Threat Modeling Tool mitigations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-configuration-management |

| Implement cryptography mitigations from Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-cryptography |

| Secure exception management using Threat Modeling Tool guidance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-exception-management |

| Apply secure input validation mitigations from Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-input-validation |

| Protect sensitive data using Threat Modeling Tool mitigations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-sensitive-data |

| Implement secure session management from Threat Modeling Tool | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/develop/threat-modeling-tool-session-management |

| Apply Azure-specific security best practices for AI workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ai-security-best-practices |

- | Configure Microsoft Antimalware in Azure with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/antimalware-code-samples |

| Use Azure Certificate Authority roots and requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/azure-certificate-authority-details |

- | Design Azure backup and restore plan against ransomware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/backup-plan-to-protect-against-ransomware |

- | Implement Azure resource security best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/best-practices-and-patterns |

- | Configure alternate email notifications for Customer Lockbox | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/customer-lockbox-alternative-email |

+ | Enforce platform code integrity in Azure production | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/code-integrity |

| Understand and configure Azure Customer Lockbox access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/customer-lockbox-faq |

- | Apply Azure identity and access control best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/identity-management-best-practices |

- | Review Azure SQL Database built-in security features | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/infrastructure-sql |

- | Apply Azure operational security checklist actions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/operational-checklist |

+ | Control Microsoft engineer data access with Customer Lockbox | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/customer-lockbox-overview |

+ | Secure Azure hardware, firmware, and supply chain | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/firmware |

+ | Maintain Azure infrastructure integrity and security controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/infrastructure-integrity |

+ | Monitor Azure infrastructure for security and vulnerabilities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/infrastructure-monitoring |

+ | Manage and operate the Azure production network securely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/infrastructure-operations |

+ | Understand Azure SQL Database security capabilities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/infrastructure-sql |

+ | Apply firmware measured boot and host attestation in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/measured-boot-host-attestation |

+ | Apply Azure operational security checklist controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/operational-checklist |

| Follow Azure penetration testing rules and scope | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/pen-testing |

- | Understand security access methods for Azure production network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/production-network |

- | Understand Azure controls for protection of customer data | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/protection-customer-data |

- | Detect and respond to ransomware using Azure security tools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-detect-respond |

- | Use Azure-native features to protect against ransomware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-features-resources |

- | Configure Azure Firewall Premium to mitigate ransomware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-protection-with-azure-firewall |

- | Implement core Microsoft Entra identity security steps | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/steps-secure-identity |

+ | Verify Azure platform integrity and secure host lifecycle | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/platform |

+ | Secure access to the Azure production network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/production-network |

+ | Control and audit access to customer data in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/protection-customer-data |

+ | Use Secure Boot to protect Azure virtual machines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/secure-boot |

### Configuration

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

| Configure Dependabot and Copacetic for container security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/container-secure-supply-chain-implementation/cssc-depenadabot-quickstart |

- | Configure firewalls using Azure domain patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/azure-domains |

+ | Configure Microsoft Antimalware for Azure workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/antimalware |

+ | Plan firewall rules using Azure domain patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/azure-domains |

+ | Configure alternate email notifications for Customer Lockbox | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/customer-lockbox-alternative-email |

| Configure Azure services to use customer-managed keys | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/encryption-customer-managed-keys-support |

- | Configure and analyze Azure security logging and auditing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/log-audit |

- | Adapt to upcoming Azure managed TLS and DCV changes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/managed-tls-changes |

+ | Configure Azure security logging and auditing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/log-audit |

+ | Adapt to Azure managed TLS feature changes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/managed-tls-changes |

+ | Configure Azure-native features for ransomware protection | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/ransomware-features-resources |

### Integrations & Coding Patterns

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

| Create and attach signed SBOMs to container images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/attach-sbom |

+ | Use PowerShell to configure Microsoft Antimalware in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/antimalware-code-samples |

### Deployment

| Topic | URL |

|-------|-----|

| Sign and verify container images in Azure Pipelines with Notation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/notation-ado-task-sign |

| Sign container images with Notation in GitHub Actions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/notation-sign-gha |

| Verify container image signatures with Notation in GitHub Actions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/container-secure-supply-chain/articles/verify-gha |

- | Check Azure vs Azure Government security feature availability | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/feature-availability |