azure-networking

Azure Networking Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Networking. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, and configuration. 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 |

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

| Troubleshooting | L34-L39 | Diagnosing and resolving Azure network resource issues, including monitoring, troubleshooting connectivity/performance, and fixing failed Microsoft.Network provisioning states. |

| Best Practices | L40-L44 | Guidance on boosting Azure NVA/VM network throughput and latency using Accelerated Connections, including configuration steps and performance optimization best practices. |

| Decision Making | L45-L62 | Guidance on choosing Azure network architectures and services (load balancing, DDoS, firewall/WAF, hybrid/multicloud, private access, egress/ingress) for specific deployment scenarios. |

| Architecture & Design Patterns | L63-L75 | Designing secure Azure network topologies (hub-spoke, flat, multi-region, Virtual WAN), planning IP addressing/subnets, and applying common workload-specific networking patterns. |

| Security | L76-L90 | Designing and enforcing network security in Azure: firewalls, WAF, NSGs/ASGs, secure DNS, DDoS protection, and applying Zero Trust and policy compliance to all network paths. |

| Configuration | L91-L95 | Configuring and centrally managing virtual networks with Virtual Network Manager, and enforcing/using built-in Azure Policy definitions for networking resources. |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL |

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

| Monitor and troubleshoot Azure network resources | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/monitor |

| Diagnose failed Microsoft.Network provisioning states | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/troubleshoot-failed-state |

Best Practices

| Topic | URL |

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

| Optimize NVA and VM performance with Accelerated Connections | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/nva-accelerated-connections |

Decision Making

| Topic | URL |

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

| Use Azure region latency stats for deployment planning | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/azure-network-latency |

| Choose the right Azure load balancing service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/app-delivery |

| Plan cross-cloud connectivity with Azure networking | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/cross-cloud |

| Plan cross-region and multicloud connectivity in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/cross-region |

| Select the right Azure DDoS protection tier | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/ddos |

| Plan Azure hybrid connectivity with VPN or ExpressRoute | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/hybrid-connectivity |

| Select Azure services for internet ingress | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/internet-ingress |

| Plan lift-and-shift Azure network designs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/lift-and-shift |

| Design networks for migrate-and-modernize workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/migrate-modernize |

| Control outbound internet egress from Azure VNets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/outbound-egress |

| Select private access options for Azure PaaS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/private-platform-as-a-service |

| Select secure application delivery services in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/secure-application-delivery |

| Choose a secure Azure network topology for workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/secure-network-topology |

| Choose between Azure Firewall, DDoS Protection, and WAF | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/network-security |

Architecture & Design Patterns

| Topic | URL |

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

| Deploy a Zero Trust virtual network for Azure web apps | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/create-zero-trust-network-web-apps |

| Design a secure hub-spoke network for Azure web apps | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/cross-service-scenarios/design-secure-hub-spoke-network |

| Implement a single-workload flat VNet topology | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/flat-network |

| Design hub-and-spoke network topology in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/hub-spoke |

| Plan IP addressing for Azure virtual networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/ip-planning |

| Design multi-region Azure network architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/multi-region |

| Architect global transit networks with Azure Virtual WAN | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/virtual-wan |

| Design Azure virtual networks and subnet layouts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/vnets-subnets |

| Apply common Azure networking workload patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/workload-patterns |

Security

| Topic | URL |

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

| Design Azure Firewall tiers and traffic inspection | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/azure-firewall |

| Secure developer and admin access to Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/developer-admin-access |

| Design secure DNS and private name resolution in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/dns-security |

| Secure Azure VNets with NSGs and ASGs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/network-application-security-groups |

| Protect web apps with Azure Web Application Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/web-application-firewall |

| Apply Azure Policy compliance controls to networking | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security-controls-policy |

| Apply Zero Trust to Application Gateway WAF | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/zero-trust-application-gateway-waf |

| Implement Zero Trust with Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/zero-trust-azure-firewall |

| Harden Azure DDoS Protection with Zero Trust | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/zero-trust-ddos-protection |

| Secure Azure Front Door WAF using Zero Trust | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/zero-trust-front-door-waf |

| Apply Zero Trust to Azure network security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/security/zero-trust-network-security |

Configuration

| Topic | URL |

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

| Manage Azure VNets centrally with Virtual Network Manager | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/design-guide/azure-virtual-network-manager |

| Use built-in Azure Policy for networking services | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/networking/policy-reference |