azure-key-vault
Expert knowledge for Azure Key Vault development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when managing secrets/keys, Private Link, Entra ID auth, BYOK/HSM, or ARM/Bicep/Terraform deployments, and other Azure Key Vault related development tasks. Not for Azure Cloud Hsm (use azure-cloud-hsm), Azure Dedicated HSM (use azure-dedicated-hsm), Azure Payment Hsm (use azure-payment-hsm), Azure Attestation (use azure-attestation).
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoftdocs/agent-skills --skill azure-key-vault- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads azure-key-vault automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Azure Key Vault Skill
This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Key Vault. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, 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), useread_filewith the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g.,[security.md](security.md)), useread_fileon the linked reference file
IMPORTANT for Agent: If
metadata.generated_atis more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. Ifmcp_microsoftdocstools 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_fetchwith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown. - Fallback: Use
fetch_webpagewith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.
Category Index
| Category | Lines | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | L36-L45 | Diagnosing and fixing Key Vault errors: REST/API codes, Private Link misconfig, access policy/Policy enforcement issues, and Managed HSM external key management failures. |
| Best Practices | L46-L52 | Best practices for securing Key Vault keys, handling Managed HSM disaster recovery, and generating/importing BYOK HSM keys for compliant, resilient key management. |
| Decision Making | L53-L63 | Guidance on choosing access control models, safely updating Key Vault APIs, and planning/migrating key workloads, including external keys and Managed HSM capacity, scaling, and SLAs. |
| Limits & Quotas | L64-L75 | Limits, quotas, and behaviors for Key Vault and Managed HSM (certificates, secrets, throttling, logging latency, IP firewall/network rules, soft-delete/recovery, and capacity constraints). |
| Security | L76-L106 | Securing Azure Key Vault and Managed HSM: auth (Entra ID, RBAC/ABAC, access policies), networking/firewalls/private endpoints, Zero Trust, BYOK/HSM key transfer, backup/restore, and best practices. |
| Configuration | L107-L130 | Configuring Key Vault and Managed HSM for monitoring, logging, alerts, policies, key/secret types and rotation, secure key release, BYOK imports, and soft-delete/purge protection. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L131-L159 | Patterns and code samples for integrating Key Vault with apps and services (Event Grid, Logic Apps, Databricks, Private Link) and using keys/secrets from .NET, Node.js, Python, and JavaScript. |
| Deployment | L160-L163 | How to deploy and provision Azure Key Vault and Managed HSM (vaults, keys, secrets) using ARM templates, Bicep, Terraform, Azure CLI, and PowerShell |
Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Resolve common Azure Key Vault error codes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/common-error-codes |
| Diagnose and fix Azure Key Vault Private Link configuration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/private-link-diagnostics |
| Interpret Azure Key Vault REST API error codes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/rest-error-codes |
| Troubleshoot Azure Policy enforcement on Key Vault | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/troubleshoot-azure-policy-for-key-vault |
| Troubleshoot Azure Key Vault access policy failures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/troubleshooting-access-issues |
| Troubleshoot Managed HSM external key management failures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/external-key-management-troubleshooting |
Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply security best practices for Azure Key Vault keys | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/keys/secure-keys |
| Execute disaster recovery for Azure Managed HSM disruptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/disaster-recovery-guide |
| Generate and import BYOK HSM keys into Azure Managed HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/hsm-protected-keys-byok |
Decision Making
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Choose default access control model for Key Vault | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/access-control-default |
| Update Azure Key Vault API versions safely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/migrate-api-version |
| Plan and execute migration of cryptographic key workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/migrate-key-workloads |
| Migrate Azure Key Vault from access policies to RBAC | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/rbac-migration |
| Plan migration from external keys to Managed HSM keys | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/external-key-management-migration |
| Evaluate SLA and responsibilities for Managed HSM external keys | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/external-key-management-shared-responsibility |
| Plan capacity and scaling for Azure Managed HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/managed-hsm/scaling-guidance |
Limits & Quotas
Security
Configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns
Deployment
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Provision Key Vault and key using Terraform | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/keys/quick-create-terraform |
FAQ
What does the azure-key-vault skill do?
Expert knowledge for Azure Key Vault development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when managing secrets/keys, Private Link, Entra ID auth, BYOK/HSM, or ARM/Bicep/Terraform deployments, and other Azure Key Vault related development tasks. Not for Azure Cloud Hsm (use azure-cloud-hsm), Azure Dedicated HSM (use azure-dedicated-hsm), Azure Payment Hsm (use azure-payment-hsm), Azure Attestation (use azure-attestation).
How do I install azure-key-vault?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/microsoftdocs/agent-skills --skill azure-key-vault in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/azure-key-vault/ (personal) or .claude/skills/azure-key-vault/ (project).
Which AI agents can use azure-key-vault?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is azure-key-vault safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains azure-key-vault?
It is published by microsoftdocs in microsoftdocs/agent-skills. It has 316 recorded installs.
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