# Azure Aigateway

> Configure Azure API Management as an AI Gateway to govern AI models, MCP tools, and agents with policies for caching, rate limiting, content safety, and cost control.

- Skill: `microsoft/azure-aigateway` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 9 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add microsoft/azure-aigateway`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/microsoft/azure-aigateway/raw
- Safety review: CAUTION (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra, AI & ML, Security, Agent Building, Cloud Platforms, Compliance & Privacy
- Tags: Ai Gateway, Api Management, Azure, Content Safety, Mcp, Openai, Rate Limiting, Semantic Caching
- License: MIT
- Author: Microsoft (https://skillmd.com/u/microsoft), verified publisher
- Updated: 2026-07-06
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/microsoft/azure-aigateway

---


# Azure AI Gateway

Configure Azure API Management (APIM) as an AI Gateway for governing AI models, MCP tools, and agents.

> **To deploy APIM**, use the **azure-prepare** skill. See [APIM deployment guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/api-management/get-started-create-service-instance).

## When to Use This Skill

| Category | Triggers |
|----------|----------|
| **Model Governance** | "semantic caching", "token limits", "load balance AI", "track token usage" |
| **Tool Governance** | "rate limit MCP", "protect my tools", "configure my tool", "convert API to MCP" |
| **Agent Governance** | "content safety", "jailbreak detection", "filter harmful content" |
| **Configuration** | "add Azure OpenAI backend", "configure my model", "add AI Foundry model" |
| **Testing** | "test AI gateway", "call OpenAI through gateway" |

---

## Quick Reference

| Policy | Purpose | Details |
|--------|---------|---------|
| `azure-openai-token-limit` | Cost control | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#token-rate-limiting) |
| `azure-openai-semantic-cache-lookup/store` | 60-80% cost savings | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#semantic-caching) |
| `azure-openai-emit-token-metric` | Observability | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#token-metrics) |
| `llm-content-safety` | Safety & compliance | [Agent Policies](references/policies.md#content-safety) |
| `rate-limit-by-key` | MCP/tool protection | [Tool Policies](references/policies.md#request-rate-limiting) |

---

## Get Gateway Details

```bash
# Get gateway URL
az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv

# List backends (AI models)
az apim backend list --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> \
  --query "[].{id:name, url:url}" -o table

# Get subscription key
az apim subscription keys list \
  --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --subscription-id <sub-id>
```

---

## Test AI Endpoint

```bash
GATEWAY_URL=$(az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv)

curl -X POST "${GATEWAY_URL}/openai/deployments/<deployment>/chat/completions?api-version=2024-02-01" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: <key>" \
  -d '{"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}], "max_tokens": 100}'
```

---

## Common Tasks

### Add AI Backend

See [references/patterns.md](references/patterns.md#pattern-1-add-ai-model-backend) for full steps.

```bash
# Discover AI resources
az cognitiveservices account list --query "[?kind=='OpenAI']" -o table

# Create backend
az apim backend create --service-name <apim> --resource-group <rg> \
  --backend-id openai-backend --protocol http --url "https://<aoai>.openai.azure.com/openai"

# Grant access (managed identity)
az role assignment create --assignee <apim-principal-id> \
  --role "Cognitive Services User" --scope <aoai-resource-id>
```

### Apply AI Governance Policy

Recommended policy order in `<inbound>`:

1. **Authentication** - Managed identity to backend
2. **Semantic Cache Lookup** - Check cache before calling AI
3. **Token Limits** - Cost control
4. **Content Safety** - Filter harmful content
5. **Backend Selection** - Load balancing
6. **Metrics** - Token usage tracking

See [references/policies.md](references/policies.md#combining-policies) for complete example.

---

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Token limit 429 | Increase `tokens-per-minute` or add load balancing |
| No cache hits | Lower `score-threshold` to 0.7 |
| Content false positives | Increase category thresholds (5-6) |
| Backend auth 401 | Grant APIM "Cognitive Services User" role |

See [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md) for details.

---

## References

- [**Detailed Policies**](references/policies.md) - Full policy examples
- [**Configuration Patterns**](references/patterns.md) - Step-by-step patterns
- [**Troubleshooting**](references/troubleshooting.md) - Common issues
- [AI-Gateway Samples](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/AI-Gateway)
- [GenAI Gateway Docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/api-management/genai-gateway-capabilities)

## SDK Quick References

- **Content Safety**: [Python](references/sdk/azure-ai-contentsafety-py.md) | [TypeScript](references/sdk/azure-ai-contentsafety-ts.md)
- **API Management**: [Python](references/sdk/azure-mgmt-apimanagement-py.md) | [.NET](references/sdk/azure-mgmt-apimanagement-dotnet.md)