/azure-networking

name: azure-networking
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Networking development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, and configuration. Use when designing VNets/VWAN, hub-spoke, Azure Firewall/WAF, DDoS/NSG policies, or fixing Microsoft.Network issues, and other Azure Networking related development tasks. Not for Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network), Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager), Azure Virtual WAN (use azure-virtual-wan), Azure Network Watcher (use azure-network-watcher).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-09-06"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

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](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-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/ne