Azure Defender For Iot Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Defender For Iot. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, 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	L37-L45	Troubleshooting Defender for IoT micro agents and OT sensors, validating sensor installs, interpreting sensor health messages, and understanding built‑in sensor alert types.
Best Practices	L46-L53	Best practices for OT/ICS: using CIS benchmarks, designing monitoring topology, planning sensor placement at sites, and optimizing alert triage and response workflows.
Decision Making	L54-L65	Guidance on choosing OT traffic mirroring methods, licenses, and appliances, plus planning billing, console retirement, cloud transition, and tracking Defender for IoT OT software versions.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L66-L72	OT network architectures for connecting sensors to Azure, sample connectivity models, and mapping Defender for IoT components to Purdue OT network layers.
Limits & Quotas	L73-L83	Data residency, retention limits, feature lifecycle, supported/archived OT sensors, virtual appliance requirements, and networking/port prerequisites for Defender for IoT.
Security	L84-L107	Security alerts, recommendations, roles, auth, and certificates for Defender for IoT/IoT Hub/OT sensors, including RBAC, SSO, PAM auditing, and Zero Trust monitoring.
Configuration	L108-L131	Configuring Defender for IoT micro agents and OT sensors: setup, OS dependencies, monitoring modes, networking/proxy/DNS/firewall, sensor management, maintenance, and auditing activity.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L132-L166	Integrating Defender for IoT with SIEMs, firewalls, ServiceNow, Sentinel, and partner tools, plus APIs, micro agent provisioning, traffic mirroring, and automation patterns.
Deployment	L167-L189	Hardware/VM requirements and step-by-step guides to deploy, configure, mirror traffic, back up, restore, and update Defender for IoT OT sensor appliances and VMs.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Troubleshoot Defender for IoT micro agent issues	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/troubleshoot-defender-micro-agent
Reference for Defender for IoT sensor alert types	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/alert-engine-messages
Troubleshoot Microsoft Defender for IoT OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-troubleshoot-sensor
Validate Defender for IoT OT sensor software installation	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/post-install-validation-ot-software
Interpret Defender for IoT sensor health messages	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/sensor-health-messages

Best Practices

Topic	URL
Investigate CIS benchmark recommendations in Defender	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/how-to-investigate-cis-benchmark
Plan OT monitoring topology with Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/plan-corporate-monitoring
Prepare OT sites and sensor placement for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/plan-prepare-deploy
Optimize OT alert workflows on Defender for IoT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-accelerate-alert-incident-response

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Choose OT traffic mirroring methods for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/traffic-mirroring-methods
Decide between SPAN, RSPAN, ERSPAN for OT mirroring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/traffic-mirroring-methods
Plan Defender for IoT billing and licensing	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/billing
Choose and extend Defender for IoT licenses	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/license-and-trial-license-extention
Select appropriate OT appliances for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-appliance-sizing
Plan for Defender for IoT on-premises console retirement	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/on-premises-management-console-retirement
Transition Defender for IoT management from on-premises to cloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/transition-on-premises-management-console-to-cloud
Track Defender for IoT OT software versions and support	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/release-notes

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Select architectures to connect OT sensors to Azure	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/architecture-connections
Use sample OT network connectivity models for sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/sample-connectivity-models
Map Defender for IoT to Purdue OT network layers	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/understand-network-architecture

Limits & Quotas

Topic	URL
Understand Defender for IoT data residency mapping	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-data-processing
Review Defender for IoT feature support lifecycle	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/edge-security-module-deprecation
Networking requirements and ports for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/networking-requirements
Review catalog of preconfigured OT monitoring appliances	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-pre-configured-appliances
Check system requirements for virtual OT appliances	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-virtual-appliances
Understand Defender for IoT data retention limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/references-data-retention
Review archived Defender for IoT OT sensor versions	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/release-notes-ot-monitoring-sensor-archive

Security

Topic	URL
Use Defender micro agent built-in security alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-agent-based-security-alerts
Define custom Defender for IoT Hub alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-customizable-security-alerts
Apply Defender for IoT Hub security recommendations	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-recommendations
Use Defender for IoT Hub built-in alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-security-alerts
Use ThreadX micro agent alerts and recommendations	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-threadx-security-alerts-recommendations
Configure PAM auditing for Defender sign-in events	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/configure-pam-to-audit-sign-in-events
Create and assign custom Defender device alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/quickstart-create-custom-alerts
Call Defender for IoT sensor authentication APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/api/sensor-auth-apis
Meet SSL/TLS certificate requirements for OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/best-practices/certificate-requirements
Review Defender for IoT compliance and certifications	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/compliance
Enable enterprise IoT security in Defender for Endpoint	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/eiot-defender-for-endpoint
Manage Defender for IoT users and roles	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/manage-users-overview
Assign Azure RBAC roles for Defender for IoT access	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/manage-users-portal
Manage on-premises users on Defender for IoT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/manage-users-sensor
Apply Zero Trust monitoring to OT networks with Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/monitor-zero-trust
Create CA-signed SSL/TLS certificates for OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/create-ssl-certificates
Use Defender for IoT security recommendations to reduce OT risk	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/recommendations
Map Azure RBAC roles to Defender for IoT actions	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/roles-azure
Configure on-premises Defender for IoT user roles	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/roles-on-premises
Configure SSO with Entra ID for IoT sensor console	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/set-up-sso

Configuration

Topic	URL
Configure Defender for IoT micro agent behavior	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-micro-agent-configuration
Review Linux OS dependencies for Defender micro agent	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/concept-micro-agent-linux-dependencies
Configure DMI decoder for Defender micro agent	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/how-to-configure-dmi-decoder
Configure Defender for IoT micro agent twin	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/how-to-configure-micro-agent-twin
Configure Defender micro agent for Eclipse ThreadX	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/how-to-threadx-security-module
Use Defender for IoT OT sensor CLI commands	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/cli-ot-sensor
Configure OT active monitoring methods in Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/configure-active-monitoring
Configure reverse DNS lookup for OT device enrichment	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/configure-reverse-dns-lookup
Configure OT sensor settings centrally from Azure portal	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/configure-sensor-settings-portal
Set up Windows Endpoint Monitoring for OT networks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/configure-windows-endpoint-monitoring
Configure OT sensor proxy connections to Azure	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/connect-sensors
Import supplemental OT device data into sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-import-device-information
Perform OT sensor maintenance via sensor console GUI	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-manage-individual-sensors
Manage Defender for IoT sensors in Azure portal	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-manage-sensors-on-the-cloud
Set up SNMP MIB health monitoring for OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-set-up-snmp-mib-monitoring
Manage threat intelligence package updates on OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-work-with-threat-intelligence-packages
Onboard OT sensors to Defender for IoT in Azure	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/onboard-sensors
Configure and activate Microsoft Defender for IoT OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/activate-deploy-sensor
Configure firewall endpoints for OT sensor cloud management	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/provision-cloud-management
Audit and track Defender for IoT user activity	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/track-user-activity

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Provision Defender micro agent with DPS and X.509	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/how-to-provision-micro-agent
Use Defender micro agent API for Eclipse ThreadX	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/device-builders/threadx-security-module-api
Manage OT sensor alerts using Defender for IoT APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/api/sensor-alert-apis
Manage OT sensor inventory via Defender for IoT APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/api/sensor-inventory-apis
Access OT vulnerability data via Defender for IoT APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/api/sensor-vulnerability-apis
Automate OT sensor disconnection alerts with Sentinel playbooks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/automate-sensor-disconnection-alerts
Enrich Windows endpoint data using local script	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/detect-windows-endpoints-script
Forward OT sensor alerts to partner systems and syslog	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/how-to-forward-alert-information-to-partners
Choose and configure Defender for IoT partner integrations	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrate-overview
Integrate ArcSight with Defender for IoT alert forwarding	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/arcsight
Send Defender for IoT alerts to LogRhythm SIEM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/logrhythm
Integrate RSA NetWitness with Defender for IoT alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/netwitness
Connect on-premises Defender for IoT sensors to Sentinel (legacy)	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/on-premises-sentinel
Stream Defender for IoT cloud alerts to third-party SIEMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/send-cloud-data-to-partners
Configure legacy ServiceNow integration for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/integrations/service-now-legacy
Use Sentinel solution to investigate Defender for IoT threats	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/iot-advanced-threat-monitoring
Connect Defender for IoT with Microsoft Sentinel via data connector	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/iot-solution
Integrate with Microsoft Defender for IoT REST APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/references-work-with-defender-for-iot-apis
Configure Cisco ERSPAN for Defender for IoT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/configure-mirror-erspan
Use ESXi vSwitch promiscuous mode for OT traffic mirroring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/configure-mirror-esxi
Use Hyper-V vSwitch promiscuous mode for OT mirroring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/configure-mirror-hyper-v
Configure Cisco RSPAN mirroring for OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/configure-mirror-rspan
Configure Cisco SPAN ports for Defender for IoT traffic mirroring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/configure-mirror-span
Integrate CyberArk with Defender for IoT for credential security	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-cyberark
Integrate Forescout with Defender for IoT for OT visibility	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-forescout
Integrate Fortinet firewalls with Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-fortinet
Integrate Palo Alto firewalls with Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-palo-alto
Integrate IBM QRadar with Defender for IoT alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-qradar
Integrate ServiceNow OT Manager with Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-servicenow
Integrate Splunk with Microsoft Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/tutorial-splunk
Visualize Defender for IoT data with Azure Monitor workbooks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/workbooks

Deployment

Topic	URL
Select and use OT monitoring appliances for Defender for IoT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/
Deploy Dell PowerEdge R350 for OT sensor monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/dell-poweredge-r350-e1800
Deploy Dell PowerEdge R360 for OT sensor monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/dell-poweredge-r360-e1800
Deploy Dell PowerEdge R660 for OT sensor monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/dell-poweredge-r660
Deploy Heptagon YB3x appliance for OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/heptagon-yb3x
Use HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen 11 (4SFF) for OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl20-gen-11
Use HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen 11 (2LFF) for OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl20-gen-11-nhp-2lff
Use legacy HPE ProLiant DL20 for enterprise OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl20-legacy
Use HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen10 Plus for enterprise OT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl20-plus-enterprise
Use HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen10 Plus (2LFF) for SMB OT	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl20-plus-smb
Deploy Defender for IoT on HPE ProLiant DL360	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl360
Deploy Defender for IoT on HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen 11	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/hpe-proliant-dl360-gen11
Deploy Defender for IoT OT sensor VM on Hyper-V Gen 2	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/virtual-sensor-hyper-v
Deploy Defender for IoT OT sensor VM on VMware ESXi	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/virtual-sensor-vmware
Deploy YS-techsystems YS-FIT2 for OT monitoring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/appliance-catalog/ys-techsystems-ys-fit2
Back up and restore Defender for IoT OT sensors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/back-up-restore-sensor
Plan hybrid or air-gapped Defender for IoT deployments	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/air-gapped-deploy
Install and initially configure Defender for IoT OT sensor software	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/ot-deploy/install-software-ot-sensor
Deploy OT sensors with correct traffic mirroring	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/traffic-mirroring/set-up-traffic-mirroring
Update Defender for IoT OT sensor software versions	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-iot/organizations/update-ot-software