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Expert knowledge for Azure Policy development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when authoring Machine Configuration packages, deploying via ARM/Bicep/Terraform, mapping CIS/NIST baselines, migr...

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SKILL.md

Full skill instructions

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

CategoryLinesDescription
TroubleshootingL35-L41Diagnosing and fixing Azure Policy non-compliance, common policy evaluation/​deployment errors, and Machine Configuration deployment and remediation issues.
Best PracticesL42-L57Designing effective Azure Policy definitions: effects, logical/​value operators, arrays, tags, initiatives, parameters, and testing/​behavior of Machine/​Guest Configuration.
Decision MakingL58-L64Guidance for planning migrations from Azure Automation DSC, DSC extension, and Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policy/​Machine Configuration, including mapping features and migration steps.
SecurityL65-L119Using Azure Policy and Machine Configuration for security baselines and mapping/​implementing compliance frameworks (CIS, NIST, ISO, PCI, FedRAMP, HIPAA, etc.) across Azure and Azure Government.
ConfigurationL120-L134Authoring, assigning, storing, and securing Machine Configuration (guest configuration) packages and policies, plus prerequisites, networking, remediation, and compliance result analysis.
Integrations & Coding PatternsL135-L140Using Azure Resource Graph to query Azure Policy compliance data and guest configuration state across resources for reporting, auditing, and large-scale policy analysis
DeploymentL141-L150How 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

TopicURL
Troubleshoot Azure Machine Configuration deploymentshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/04-operations-troubleshooting
Diagnose causes of Azure Policy non-compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/determine-non-compliance
Troubleshoot common Azure Policy errors and issueshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/troubleshoot/general

Best Practices

TopicURL
Test Machine Configuration packages with GuestConfiguration toolshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/3-test-package
Understand PSDSC behavior changes in Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/psdsc-in-machine-configuration
Author Azure Policy rules for array propertieshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/author-policies-for-arrays
Count array members with Azure Policy count operatorhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-count-operator
Deploy resources using deployIfNotExists policieshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-deploy-resources
Choose and configure Azure Policy effectshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-effect-details
Apply field properties correctly in Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-fields
Group Azure Policy definitions into initiativeshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-group-with-initiative
Use logical operators effectively in Azure Policy ruleshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-logical-operators
Parameterize Azure Policy definitions for reusehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-parameters
Enforce and inherit tags using Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-tags
Use the value operator safely in Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pattern-value-operator

Decision Making

TopicURL
Plan migration from Azure Automation DSC to Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/migrating-from-azure-automation
Plan migration from DSC extension to Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/migrating-from-dsc-extension
Plan migration from Automanage Best Practices to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/migrate-from-automanage-best-practices

Security

TopicURL
Deploy Machine Configuration security baseline policieshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-security-baselines/deploy-a-baseline-policy-assignment
Customize Machine Configuration security baseline parametershttps://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 baselineshttps://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 contenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/6-sign-package
Define and use Azure Policy exemption structurehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/exemption-structure
Map Azure Policy to Australian ISM PROTECTED controlshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/australia-ism
Use Azure Policy for Microsoft cloud security benchmarkhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/azure-security-benchmark
Use Azure built-in policy initiatives for compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-initiatives
Use Azure built-in policy definitions for governancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-policies
Use Azure Policy for Canada Federal PBMM compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/canada-federal-pbmm
Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-1-0
Map CIS Azure 1.3.0 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-3-0
Map CIS Azure 1.4.0 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-1-4-0
Map CIS Azure 2.0.0 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cis-azure-2-0-0
Align Azure Policy with CMMC Level 3 controlshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/cmmc-l3
Map FedRAMP High controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-high
Map FedRAMP Moderate controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/fedramp-moderate
Align Microsoft cloud security benchmark with Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-azure-security-benchmark
Map CIS Azure 1.1.0 (Gov) controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-1-0
Map CIS Azure 1.3.0 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cis-azure-1-3-0
Implement CMMC Level 3 controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-cmmc-l3
Map FedRAMP High controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-high
Map FedRAMP Moderate controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-fedramp-moderate
Implement IRS 1075 2016 controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-irs-1075-sept2016
Use Azure Policy for ISO 27001:2013 compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-iso-27001
Map NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-171-r2
Map NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r4
Map NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-nist-sp-800-53-r5
Map SOC 2 controls to Azure Policy in Azure Governmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/gov-soc-2
Apply Docker security baseline via guest configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-docker
Apply Linux security baseline via guest configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-linux
Apply Windows Server security baseline via guest configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/guest-configuration-baseline-windows
Implement HIPAA HITRUST controls using Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/hipaa-hitrust
Use Azure Policy for IRS 1075 (2016) compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/irs-1075-sept2016
Align Azure Policy with ISO 27001:2013 controlshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/iso-27001
Apply MCfS Baseline Confidential policies via Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-confidential
Apply MCfS Baseline Global policies via Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/mcfs-baseline-global
Map NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-171-r2
Map NIST SP 800-53 Rev.4 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r4
Map NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nist-sp-800-53-r5
Implement NL BIO Cloud Theme controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/nl-bio-cloud-theme
Implement PCI DSS 3.2.1 controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-3-2-1
Implement PCI DSS v4.0 controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/pci-dss-4-0
Align RBI IT Framework 2016 controls with Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-banks-2016
Use Azure Policy for RBI IT Framework for NBFChttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rbi-itf-nbfc-2017
Map RMIT Malaysia controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/rmit-malaysia
Map SOC 2 controls to Azure Policy initiativeshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/soc-2
Implement Spain ENS controls using Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/spain-ens
Map SWIFT CSP-CSCF 2021 controls to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2021
Map Azure Policy to SWIFT CSP-CSCF v2022 controlshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/swift-csp-cscf-2022
Use Azure Policy for UK OFFICIAL and NHS compliancehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/ukofficial-uknhs

Configuration

TopicURL
Understand Machine Configuration assignment resources and metadatahttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/concepts/assignments
Assign built-in Machine Configuration policieshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-built-in-policies
Create custom Machine Configuration policy definitionshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/create-policy-definition
Install GuestConfiguration authoring module for Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/1-set-up-authoring-environment
Create custom Machine Configuration package artifactshttps://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 Storagehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/5-access-package
Develop custom Machine Configuration packageshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/overview
View and analyze Machine Configuration compliance resultshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/view-compliance
Configure prerequisites for Azure Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/02-setup-prerequisites
Configure network and endpoints for Machine Configurationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/overview/03-network-requirements
Use built-in guest configuration packages in Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-packages

Integrations & Coding Patterns

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

Deployment

TopicURL
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with ARM templateshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/azure-resource-manager
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments with Bicephttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/bicep
Assign Machine Configuration packages using templateshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/overview
Create Machine Configuration assignments using REST APIhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/rest-api
Deploy Machine Configuration assignments using Terraformhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/assign-configuration/terraform
Publish Machine Configuration packages to Azure storagehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/machine-configuration/how-to/develop-custom-package/4-publish-package
Apply safe deployment practices to Azure Policyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/policy-safe-deployment-practices