1---2name: azure-bastion3description: Expert knowledge for Azure Bastion development including best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when configuring Bastion for AKS private clusters, VM scale sets, Entra ID auth, hub/spoke VNets, or IP-based cross-VNet access, and other Azure Bastion related development tasks. Not for Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network), Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager), Azure VPN Gateway (use azure-vpn-gateway), Azure Firewall (use azure-firewall).4---5# Azure Bastion Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Bastion. Covers best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.
8
9## How to Use This Skill
10
11> **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
12
13> **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)
14
15This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
16- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
17- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.
18
19## Category Index
20
21| Category | Lines | Description |
22|----------|-------|-------------|
23| Best Practices | L35-L39 | Guidance on reducing Azure Bastion costs through sizing, scaling, and usage patterns while maintaining secure remote access and compliance best practices. |
24| Decision Making | L40-L46 | Guidance on choosing and upgrading Bastion SKU tiers and using IP-based Bastion connections across VNets, subscriptions, and environments. |
25| Architecture & Design Patterns | L47-L53 | Architectural options and patterns for Azure Bastion: hub/spoke and peered VNets, private-only deployments, network/topology design, and deployment guidance for secure remote access. |
26| Limits & Quotas | L54-L58 | Configuring Azure Bastion host scaling limits, including max concurrent RDP/SSH sessions, connection thresholds, and how to adjust or plan capacity for different SKUs. |
27| Security | L59-L65 | Configuring secure Azure Bastion access: Entra ID auth setup, NSG rule hardening, and applying security benchmark best practices for Bastion deployments. |
28| Configuration | L66-L77 | Configuring Bastion settings, Kerberos, monitoring/diagnostics, metrics/logs, native client access, session monitoring/recording, and shareable links for secure remote access. |
29| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L78-L85 | Using Bastion with AKS private clusters, VM scale sets, and native Windows/Linux clients, including RDP/SSH setup and file transfer workflows through Bastion. |
30
31### Best Practices
32| Topic | URL |
33|-------|-----|
34| Optimize Azure Bastion costs without reducing security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/cost-optimization |
35
36### Decision Making
37| Topic | URL |
38|-------|-----|
39| Select the appropriate Azure Bastion SKU tier | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-sku-comparison |
40| Use Azure Bastion IP-based connections across environments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-ip-address |
41| View and upgrade Azure Bastion SKU tiers safely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/upgrade-sku |
42
43### Architecture & Design Patterns
44| Topic | URL |
45|-------|-----|
46| Understand Azure Bastion deployment architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/design-architecture |
47| Design and deploy private-only Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/private-only-deployment |
48| Use Azure Bastion with VNet peering architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/vnet-peering |
49
50### Limits & Quotas
51| Topic | URL |
52|-------|-----|
53| Configure Azure Bastion host scaling limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/configure-host-scaling |
54
55### Security
56| Topic | URL |
57|-------|-----|
58| Configure Entra ID authentication for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-entra-id-authentication |
59| Configure Azure Bastion NSG rules for secure access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-nsg |
60| Secure Azure Bastion deployments using benchmark guidance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/secure-bastion |
61
62### Configuration
63| Topic | URL |
64|-------|-----|
65| Understand and manage Azure Bastion configuration settings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/configuration-settings |
66| Configure Kerberos authentication for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/kerberos-authentication-portal |
67| Configure monitoring and diagnostics for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/monitor-bastion |
68| Reference Azure Bastion monitoring metrics and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/monitor-bastion-reference |
69| Configure Azure Bastion for native client access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/native-client |
70| Monitor and manage active Azure Bastion sessions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/session-monitoring |
71| Configure and use Azure Bastion session recording | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/session-recording |
72| Create and manage Azure Bastion shareable links | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/shareable-link |
73
74### Integrations & Coding Patterns
75| Topic | URL |
76|-------|-----|
77| Connect to AKS private clusters via Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-connect-to-aks-private-cluster |
78| Connect to VM scale sets using Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-connect-vm-scale-set |
79| Connect from Linux native clients through Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-vm-native-client-linux |
80| Connect from Windows native clients through Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-vm-native-client-windows |
81| Transfer files via Azure Bastion native clients | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/vm-upload-download-native |
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