/azure-dedicated-hsm

name: azure-dedicated-hsm
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Dedicated HSM development including troubleshooting, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, and deployment. Use when sizing HSM clusters, configuring VNet/ExpressRoute, migrating ER Basic→Standard, or planning HSM retirement, and other Azure Dedicated HSM related development tasks. Not for Azure Cloud Hsm (use azure-cloud-hsm), Azure Key Vault (use azure-key-vault), Azure Payment Hsm (use azure-payment-hsm).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-08-09"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

Azure Dedicated HSM Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Dedicated HSM. Covers troubleshooting, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, 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 | L33-L38 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Dedicated HSM deployment, configuration, usage, and support issues, including common errors and steps to resolve failed or misconfigured HSM instances. | | Decision Making | L39-L44 | Guidance on Dedicated HSM retirement, choosing successors (Managed/Cloud HSM), and planning/migrating ExpressRoute IPs and HSM workloads to new SKUs or services. | | Architecture & Design Patterns | L45-L51 | Guidance on designing Dedicated HSM deployments: sizing and topology, high availability and failover patterns, and secure networking (VNet, subnets, routing, and connectivity). | | Security | L52-L57 | Physical security controls for Dedicated HSM devices and recommended security configurations, policies, and operational best practices for protecting keys and access. | | Deployment | L58-L61 | Guidance for migrating Azure Dedicated HSM deployments from ExpressRoute Basic to Standard, including network changes, prerequisites, and step-by-step migration process. |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Resolve common Azure Dedicated HSM usage and support questions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/faq | | Troubleshoot Azure Dedicated HSM deployment and configuration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/troubleshoot |

Decision Making

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Plan migration from Azure Dedicated HSM to Managed or Cloud HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/migration-guide | | Understand Azure Dedicated HSM retirement and successors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/overview |

Architecture & Design Patterns

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Design deployment architecture for Azure Dedicated HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/deployment-architecture | | Design high availability for Azure Dedicated HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/high-availability | | Plan networking architecture for Azure Dedicated HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/networking |

Security

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Understand physical security of Azure Dedicated HSM devices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/physical-security | | Apply security best practices for Azure Dedicated HSM | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/secure-dedicated-hsm |

Deployment

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Migrate Dedicated HSM from ExpressRoute Basic to Standard | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/migration-basic-standard |