/azure-network-watcher

name: azure-network-watcher
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Network Watcher development including troubleshooting, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when configuring flow logs/Traffic Analytics, VPN monitoring, packet capture, KQL/Sentinel, or Power BI views, and other Azure Network Watcher related development tasks. Not for Azure Monitor (use azure-monitor), Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network), Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager), Azure Networking (use azure-networking).
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 Network Watcher Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Network Watcher. Covers troubleshooting, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. 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 | L34-L44 | Diagnosing and fixing outbound connectivity, NSG/admin rule issues, and VPN gateway/on-prem VPN connection problems, plus automating VPN monitoring with Azure Network Watcher. | | Decision Making | L45-L51 | Guidance for migrating network monitoring: moving from classic Connection Monitor and Network Performance Monitor tests, and switching NSG flow logs to VNet flow logs. | | Limits & Quotas | L52-L56 | How to configure and run Network Watcher packet capture, storage and filtering options, and the key limits/quotas (size, duration, concurrency) that apply to captures | | Security | L57-L64 | Securing Network Watcher: RBAC setup, hardening deployments and data access, Zero Trust segmentation with Traffic Analytics, and protecting VNet flow logs using managed identities. | | Configuration | L65-L79 | Configuring and deploying Network Watcher/NSG/VNet flow logs and Traffic Analytics, including agents (Linux/Arc), schemas, filtering, ARM/Bicep templates, and Azure Policy governance. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L80-L84 | Using Network Watcher data in tools and code: parsing NSG flow logs with PowerShell, visualizing in Power BI, triggering packet capture from Functions, querying Traffic Analytics with KQL, and integrating with Sentinel. |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Diagnose outbound connection issues with Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/connection-troubleshoot-manage | | Troubleshoot NSG and admin rules with NSG diagnostics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/diagnose-network-security-rules | | Resolve common Azure Network Watcher issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/frequently-asked-questions | | Diagnose on-premises VPN connectivity to Azure with Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/network-watcher-diagnose-on-premises-connectivity | | Automate VPN connectivity monitoring with Azure Automation and Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/network-watcher-monitor-with-azure-automation | | Troubleshoot VPN gateways and connections with Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vpn-troubleshoot-cli | | Troubleshoot VPN gateways and connections with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vpn-troubleshoot-powershell |

Decision Making

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Migrate from Connection Monitor classic to new Connection Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/migrate-to-connection-monitor-from-connection-monitor-classic | | Migrate tests from Network Performance Monitor to Connection Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/migrate-to-connection-monitor-from-network-performance-monitor | | Migrate from NSG flow logs to VNet flow logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/nsg-flow-logs-migrate |

Limits & Quotas

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Use Network Watcher packet capture and understand its limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/packet-capture-overview |

Security

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Configure RBAC permissions for Azure Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/rbac-permissions | | Secure Azure Network Watcher deployment and data access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/secure-network-watcher | | Apply Zero Trust segmentation using Traffic Analytics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/traffic-analytics-zero-trust | | Secure VNet flow logs with managed identities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-managed-identity |

Configuration

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Install a