microsoftdocs/azure-security

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

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

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

Decision Making

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | 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 | | 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 | | 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 |

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 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 |

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 |

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 |