Azure Policy Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Policy. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, 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), 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	L35-L41	Diagnosing and fixing Azure Policy non-compliance, common policy evaluation/deployment errors, and Machine Configuration deployment and remediation issues.
Best Practices	L42-L57	Designing effective Azure Policy definitions: effects, logical/value operators, arrays, tags, initiatives, parameters, and testing/behavior of Machine/Guest Configuration.
Decision Making	L58-L64	Guidance for planning migrations from Azure Automation DSC, DSC extension, and Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policy/Machine Configuration, including mapping features and migration steps.
Security	L65-L126	Using Azure Policy and Machine Configuration for security baselines and mapping/enforcing compliance with standards (CIS, NIST, ISO, PCI, FedRAMP, HIPAA, SOC 2, regional regs).
Configuration	L127-L141	Authoring, assigning, storing, and securing Machine Configuration (guest configuration) packages and policies, plus prerequisites, networking, remediation, and compliance result analysis.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L142-L147	Using Azure Resource Graph to query Azure Policy compliance data and guest configuration state across resources for reporting, auditing, and large-scale policy analysis
Deployment	L148-L157	How to deploy and assign Machine Configuration packages via ARM/Bicep/Terraform/REST, publish packages to storage, and use safe deployment practices with Azure Policy.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Troubleshoot Azure Machine Configuration deployments	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/04-operations-troubleshooting
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 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
Author Azure Policy rules for array properties	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/author-policies-for-arrays
Count array members with Azure Policy count operator	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-count-operator
Deploy resources using deployIfNotExists policies	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-deploy-resources
Choose and configure Azure Policy effects	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-effect-details
Apply field properties correctly in Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-fields
Group Azure Policy definitions into initiatives	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-group-with-initiative
Use logical operators effectively in Azure Policy rules	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-logical-operators
Parameterize Azure Policy definitions for reuse	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-parameters
Enforce and inherit tags using Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-tags
Use the value operator safely in Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-value-operator

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
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

Security

Topic	URL
Deploy Machine Configuration security baseline policies	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/deploy-a-baseline-policy-assignment
Customize Machine Configuration security baseline parameters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/specify-custom-parameters-for-baseline-policy
Author JSON parameters for Machine Configuration baselines	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/understand-baseline-settings-parameter
Sign Machine Configuration packages and enforce signed content	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/6-sign-package
Define and use Azure Policy exemption structure	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/exemption-structure
Map Azure Policy to Australian ISM PROTECTED controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/australia-ism
Apply Microsoft cloud security benchmark via Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/azure-security-benchmark
Use Azure Policy for Canada Federal PBMM compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/canada-federal-pbmm
Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-1-0
Map CIS Azure 1.3.0 controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-3-0
Map CIS Azure 1.4.0 controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-4-0
Map CIS Azure 2.0.0 controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-2-0-0
Use CIS benchmarks for AlmaLinux via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/alma-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for Debian via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/debian-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for Oracle Linux via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/oracle-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for RHEL via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/rhel-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for Rocky Linux via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/rocky-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for SUSE Linux via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/suse-ado
Use CIS benchmarks for Ubuntu via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-linux/ubuntu-ado
Align Azure Policy with CMMC Level 3 controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cmmc-l3
Map Azure Policy to FedRAMP High requirements	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-high
Map Azure Policy to FedRAMP Moderate requirements	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-moderate
Map Microsoft cloud security benchmark to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-azure-security-benchmark
Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 (Gov) controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-1-0
Map CIS Azure 1.3.0 controls to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-3-0
Implement CMMC Level 3 controls with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cmmc-l3
Align Azure Government with FedRAMP High via Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-high
Align Azure Government with FedRAMP Moderate via Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-moderate
Implement IRS 1075 2016 controls with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-irs-1075-sept2016
Use Azure Policy for ISO 27001:2013 compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-iso-27001
Use Azure Policy for NIST SP 800-171 R2	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-171-r2
Implement NIST SP 800-53 R4 with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r4
Implement NIST SP 800-53 R5 with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r5
Align SOC 2 controls with Azure Policy in Azure Government	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-soc-2
Apply CIS Linux security baselines via Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-cis-linux
Apply Docker security baseline via guest configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-docker
Apply Linux security baseline via guest configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-linux
Apply Windows Server security baseline via guest configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-windows
Apply Windows Server 2025 security baseline via guest configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-windows-server-2025
Implement HIPAA HITRUST controls using Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/hipaa-hitrust
Use Azure Policy for IRS 1075 (2016) compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/irs-1075-sept2016
Align Azure Policy with ISO 27001:2013 controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/iso-27001
Use Azure Policy for Sovereignty Baseline Confidential compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-confidential
Use Azure Policy for Sovereignty Baseline Global compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-global
Use Azure Policy to meet NIST SP 800-171 R2	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-171-r2
Implement NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r4
Implement NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r5
Map Azure Policy to NL BIO Cloud Theme controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nl-bio-cloud-theme
Implement PCI DSS 3.2.1 controls with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-3-2-1
Implement PCI DSS v4.0 controls with Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-4-0
Use Azure Policy for RBI IT Framework for Banks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-banks-2016
Use Azure Policy for RBI IT Framework for NBFC	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-nbfc-2017
Map Azure Policy to RMIT Malaysia compliance controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rmit-malaysia
Map SOC 2 controls to Azure Policy initiatives	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/soc-2
Use Azure Policy for Spain ENS regulatory compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/spain-ens
Map Azure Policy to SWIFT CSP-CSCF v2021 controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2021
Map Azure Policy to SWIFT CSP-CSCF v2022 controls	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2022
Use Azure Policy for UK OFFICIAL and NHS compliance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/ukofficial-uknhs

Configuration

Topic	URL
Understand Machine Configuration assignment resources and metadata	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/concepts/assignments
Assign built-in Machine Configuration policies	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-built-in-policies
Create custom Machine Configuration policy definitions	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/create-policy-definition
Install GuestConfiguration authoring module for Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/1-set-up-authoring-environment
Create custom Machine Configuration package artifacts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/2-create-package
Configure access to Machine Configuration packages in Azure Storage	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/5-access-package
Develop custom Machine Configuration packages	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/overview
View and analyze Machine Configuration compliance results	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/view-compliance
Configure prerequisites for Azure Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/02-setup-prerequisites
Configure network and endpoints for Machine Configuration	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/03-network-requirements
Use built-in guest configuration packages in Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-packages

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Query Azure Policy data with Azure Resource Graph	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/resource-graph-samples
Query guest configuration state via Resource Graph	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/resource-graph-samples-guest-configuration

Deployment

Topic	URL
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with ARM templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/azure-resource-manager
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with Bicep	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/bicep
Assign Machine Configuration packages using templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/overview
Create Machine Configuration assignments using REST API	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/rest-api
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments using Terraform	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/terraform
Publish Machine Configuration packages to Azure storage	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/4-publish-package
Apply safe deployment practices to Azure Policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/policy-safe-deployment-practices