git:20260722.4983166 to git:20260727.118821d

8 added, 89 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: azure-policy

- description: Expert knowledge for Azure Policy development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when authoring Machine Configuration packages, deploying via ARM/Bicep/Terraform, mapping to CIS/NIST/ISO, querying compliance with Resource Graph, or migrating from DSC/Automanage, and other Azure Policy related development tasks. Not for Azure Blueprints (use azure-blueprints), Azure Resource Manager (use azure-resource-manager), Azure Role-based access control (use azure-rbac), Azure Security (use azure-security).

+ description: Expert knowledge for Azure Policy development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, security, configuration, and deployment. Use when authoring Machine Configuration packages, deploying via ARM/Bicep/Terraform, mapping to CIS/NIST, or migrating from DSC, and other Azure Policy related development tasks. Not for Azure Blueprints (use azure-blueprints), Azure Role-based access control (use azure-rbac), Azure Resource Manager (use azure-resource-manager), Azure Security (use azure-security).

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

metadata:

generated_at: "2026-07-19"

generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

---

# Azure Policy Skill

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

+ This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Policy. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, security, configuration, 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 |

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

- | Troubleshooting | L35-L41 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Policy non-compliance, common policy evaluation/deployment errors, and Machine Configuration deployment and remediation issues. |

- | Best Practices | L42-L57 | Designing effective Azure Policy definitions: effects, logical/value operators, arrays, tags, initiatives, parameters, and testing/behavior of Machine/Guest Configuration. |

- | Decision Making | L58-L64 | Guidance for planning migrations from Azure Automation DSC, DSC extension, and Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policy/Machine Configuration, including mapping features and migration steps. |

- | Security | L65-L128 | Security and compliance policies: configuring machine/guest security baselines, mapping Azure Policy to global/regional standards (CIS, NIST, ISO, PCI, FedRAMP, etc.), exemptions, and MFA enforcement. |

- | Configuration | L129-L146 | Authoring, assigning, storing, and securing Machine Configuration/guest configuration packages, plus prerequisites, networking, and viewing compliance via Azure Policy and built-in definitions. |

- | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L147-L152 | Using Azure Resource Graph to query Azure Policy compliance data and guest configuration state across resources for reporting, auditing, and large-scale policy analysis |

- | Deployment | L153-L162 | How to deploy and assign Machine Configuration packages via ARM/Bicep/Terraform/REST, publish packages to storage, and use safe deployment practices with Azure Policy. |

+ | Troubleshooting | L34-L38 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Policy non-compliance, common policy evaluation/deployment errors, and Machine Configuration deployment and remediation issues. |

+ | Best Practices | L39-L44 | Designing effective Azure Policy definitions: effects, logical/value operators, arrays, tags, initiatives, parameters, and testing/behavior of Machine/Guest Configuration. |

+ | Decision Making | L45-L50 | Guidance for planning migrations from Azure Automation DSC, DSC extension, and Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policy/Machine Configuration, including mapping features and migration steps. |

+ | Security | L51-L58 | Security and compliance policies: configuring machine/guest security baselines, mapping Azure Policy to global/regional standards (CIS, NIST, ISO, PCI, FedRAMP, etc.), exemptions, and MFA enforcement. |

+ | Configuration | L59-L72 | Authoring, assigning, storing, and securing Machine Configuration/guest configuration packages, plus prerequisites, networking, and viewing compliance via Azure Policy and built-in definitions. |

+ | Deployment | L73-L81 | How to deploy and assign Machine Configuration packages via ARM/Bicep/Terraform/REST, publish packages to storage, and use safe deployment practices with Azure Policy. |

### Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL |

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

| Troubleshoot Azure Machine Configuration deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/04-operations-troubleshooting |

- | Diagnose causes of Azure Policy non-compliance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/determine-non-compliance |

- | Troubleshoot common Azure Policy errors and issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/troubleshoot/general |

### Best Practices

| Topic | URL |

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

| Test Machine Configuration packages with GuestConfiguration tools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/3-test-package |

| Understand PSDSC behavior changes in Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/psdsc-in-machine-configuration |

- | Author Azure Policy rules for array properties | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/author-policies-for-arrays |

- | Count array members with Azure Policy count operator | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-count-operator |

- | Deploy resources using deployIfNotExists policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-deploy-resources |

- | Choose and configure Azure Policy effects | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-effect-details |

- | Apply field properties correctly in Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-fields |

- | Group Azure Policy definitions into initiatives | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-group-with-initiative |

- | Use logical operators effectively in Azure Policy rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-logical-operators |

- | Parameterize Azure Policy definitions for reuse | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-parameters |

- | Enforce and inherit tags using Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-tags |

- | Use the value operator safely in Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-value-operator |

### Decision Making

| Topic | URL |

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

| Plan migration from Azure Automation DSC to Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/migrating-from-azure-automation |

| Plan migration from DSC extension to Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/migrating-from-dsc-extension |

- | Plan migration from Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/migrate-from-automanage-best-practices |

### Security

| Topic | URL |

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

| Deploy Machine Configuration security baseline policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/deploy-a-baseline-policy-assignment |

| Customize Machine Configuration security baseline parameters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/specify-custom-parameters-for-baseline-policy |

| Author JSON parameters for Machine Configuration baselines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/understand-baseline-settings-parameter |

| Sign Machine Configuration packages and enforce signed content | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/6-sign-package |

- | Define and use Azure Policy exemption structure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/exemption-structure |

- | Map Azure Policy to Australian ISM PROTECTED controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/australia-ism |

- | Use Azure Policy for Microsoft cloud security benchmark | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/azure-security-benchmark |

- | Use Azure Policy for Canada Federal PBMM compliance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/canada-federal-pbmm |

- | Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 controls to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-1-0 |

- | Align Azure Policy with CIS Azure Benchmark 1.3.0 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-3-0 |

- | Align Azure Policy with CIS Azure Benchmark 1.4.0 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-4-0 |

- | Align Azure Policy with CIS Azure Benchmark 2.0.0 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-2-0-0 |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for AlmaLinux in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/alma-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for AKS-optimized Azure Linux | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/azure-linux-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for Debian Linux in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/debian-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for Oracle Linux in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/oracle-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for RHEL in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/rhel-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for Rocky Linux in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/rocky-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for SUSE Linux in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/suse-ado |

- | Configure CIS benchmarks for Ubuntu in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/ubuntu-ado |

- | Map Azure Policy to CMMC Level 3 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cmmc-l3 |

- | Map Azure Policy to FedRAMP High controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-high |

- | Map Azure Policy to FedRAMP Moderate controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-moderate |

- | Align Microsoft cloud security benchmark with Azure Policy in Azure Government | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-azure-security-benchmark |

- | Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 (Gov) controls to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-1-0 |

- | Align CIS Azure Foundations 1.3.0 with Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-3-0 |

- | Map CMMC Level 3 controls to Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cmmc-l3 |

- | Implement FedRAMP High controls with Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-high |

- | Implement FedRAMP Moderate controls with Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-moderate |

- | Implement IRS 1075 2016 controls with Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-irs-1075-sept2016 |

- | Map ISO 27001:2013 controls to Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-iso-27001 |

- | Map NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls to Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-171-r2 |

- | Align NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 with Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r4 |

- | Align NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 with Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r5 |

- | Implement SOC 2 controls using Azure Policy (Gov) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-soc-2 |

- | Apply CIS Linux security baseline via Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-cis-linux |

- | Apply Docker security baseline via guest configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-docker |

- | Apply Linux security baseline via guest configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-linux |

- | Apply Windows Server security baseline via guest configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-windows |

- | Implement Azure Security Baseline for Windows Server 2025 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-windows-server-2025 |

- | Map Azure Policy to HIPAA HITRUST controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/hipaa-hitrust |

- | Use Azure Policy for IRS 1075 (2016) compliance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/irs-1075-sept2016 |

- | Map Azure Policy to ISO 27001:2013 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/iso-27001 |

- | Apply MCfS Baseline Confidential policies via Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-confidential |

- | Apply MCfS Baseline Global policies via Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-global |

- | Map Azure Policy to NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-171-r2 |

- | Map Azure Policy to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r4 |

- | Map Azure Policy to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r5 |

- | Map Azure Policy to NL BIO Cloud Theme controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nl-bio-cloud-theme |

- | Implement PCI DSS 3.2.1 controls with Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-3-2-1 |

- | Implement PCI DSS v4.0 controls with Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-4-0 |

- | Map Azure Policy to RBI IT Framework for Banks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-banks-2016 |

- | Map Azure Policy to RBI IT Framework for NBFC | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-nbfc-2017 |

- | Map Azure Policy to RMIT Malaysia controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rmit-malaysia |

- | Map Azure Policy to SOC 2 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/soc-2 |

- | Map Azure Policy to Spain ENS controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/spain-ens |

- | Map Azure Policy to SWIFT CSP-CSCF 2021 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2021 |

- | Map Azure Policy to SWIFT CSP-CSCF v2022 controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2022 |

- | Map UK OFFICIAL and UK NHS controls to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/ukofficial-uknhs |

- | Enforce Azure MFA using Azure Policy assignments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/tutorials/mfa-enforcement |

### Configuration

| Topic | URL |

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

| Understand Machine Configuration assignment resources and metadata | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/concepts/assignments |

| Assign built-in Machine Configuration policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-built-in-policies |

| Create custom Machine Configuration policy definitions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/create-policy-definition |

| Install GuestConfiguration authoring module for Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/1-set-up-authoring-environment |

| Create custom Machine Configuration package artifacts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/2-create-package |

| Configure access to Machine Configuration packages in Azure Storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/5-access-package |

| Develop custom Machine Configuration packages | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/overview |

| View and analyze Machine Configuration compliance results | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/view-compliance |

| Configure prerequisites for Azure Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/02-setup-prerequisites |

| Configure network and endpoints for Machine Configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/03-network-requirements |

- | Configure Azure Policy with requestContext().identity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/using-request-context-identity |

- | Reference built-in Azure Policy initiatives for governance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-initiatives |

- | Use built-in guest configuration packages in Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-packages |

- | Reference built-in Azure Policy definitions for governance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-policies |

- ### Integrations & Coding Patterns

- | Topic | URL |

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

- | Query Azure Policy data with Azure Resource Graph | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/resource-graph-samples |

- | Query guest configuration state via Resource Graph | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/resource-graph-samples-guest-configuration |

### Deployment

| Topic | URL |

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

| Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/azure-resource-manager |

| Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with Bicep | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/bicep |

| Assign Machine Configuration packages using templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/overview |

| Create Machine Configuration assignments using REST API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/rest-api |

| Deploy Machine Configuration assignments using Terraform | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/terraform |

| Publish Machine Configuration packages to Azure storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/4-publish-package |

- | Apply safe deployment practices to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/policy-safe-deployment-practices |