azure-policy
Expert knowledge for Azure Policy development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when authoring JSON policies, deploying via ARM/Bicep/Terraform, enforcing security baselines, automating with Gatekeeper, or running policy-as-code in CI/CD, 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).
- Installs
- 221
- Last 24h
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoftdocs/agent-skills --skill azure-policy- 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-policy 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 Policy Skill
This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Policy. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, 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-L44 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Policy non-compliance and common errors, plus troubleshooting Azure Machine Configuration deployments and Linux/Windows guest configuration agents. |
| Best Practices | L45-L52 | Best practices for safely testing and deploying Azure Policy and Machine/Guest Configuration, including PSDSC behavior changes, impact evaluation, and safe rollout strategies. |
| Decision Making | L53-L60 | Guidance on planning migrations from DSC/Automanage to Machine Configuration/Azure Policy and choosing recommended policy definitions for managing and securing VMs. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L61-L65 | Designing Azure Policy-as-Code workflows, integrating with CI/CD, GitOps, and approvals, and structuring policy repos, environments, and automation for scalable governance. |
| Security | L66-L170 | Using Azure Policy for security/compliance: deploying security baselines, mapping to standards (CIS, NIST, ISO, PCI, FedRAMP, etc.), and enforcing regulatory and MFA requirements. |
| Configuration | L171-L210 | Designing, assigning, and managing Azure Policy and Machine Configuration: JSON structures, effects, guest config packages, compliance data, remediation, tags, identities, and exemptions. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L211-L240 | Patterns for writing reusable Azure Policy definitions (operators, fields, effects, tags, initiatives) and integrating/automating them via Terraform, Kubernetes/Gatekeeper, VS Code, Event Grid, and Resource Graph |
| Deployment | L241-L251 | How to deploy and assign Machine Configuration packages via ARM/Bicep/Terraform/REST, publish them to storage, export policy for policy-as-code, and enforce Azure Policy in DevOps pipelines |
Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Troubleshoot Azure Machine Configuration deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/04-operations-troubleshooting |
| Troubleshoot Azure machine configuration Linux agent problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/agent/linux |
| Diagnose and resolve Azure machine configuration Windows agent issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/agent/windows |
| 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 SDK 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 |
| Evaluate impact before deploying new Azure policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/evaluate-impact |
| Apply safe deployment practices to Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/policy-safe-deployment-practices |
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 |
| Select recommended Azure Policy definitions for VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/recommended-policies |
| 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 |
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Design Azure Policy as Code governance workflows | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/policy-as-code |
Security
Configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns
Deployment
FAQ
What does the azure-policy skill do?
Expert knowledge for Azure Policy development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when authoring JSON policies, deploying via ARM/Bicep/Terraform, enforcing security baselines, automating with Gatekeeper, or running policy-as-code in CI/CD, 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).
How do I install azure-policy?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/microsoftdocs/agent-skills --skill azure-policy 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-policy/ (personal) or .claude/skills/azure-policy/ (project).
Which AI agents can use azure-policy?
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-policy 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-policy?
It is published by microsoftdocs in microsoftdocs/agent-skills. It has 221 recorded installs.
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