1---2name: azure-firewall3description: Expert knowledge for Azure Firewall development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when configuring Azure Firewall SKUs, DNS/SNAT rules, TLS inspection, multi-hub routing, or DNAT for overlap, and other Azure Firewall related development tasks. Not for Azure Firewall Manager (use azure-firewall-manager), Azure Web Application Firewall (use azure-web-application-firewall), Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network), Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager).4---5# Azure Firewall Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Firewall. 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.
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| Troubleshooting | L37-L42 | Diagnosing Azure Firewall issues using known limitations, packet captures, and Sentinel log analysis for malware detection and traffic investigation. |
24| Best Practices | L43-L48 | Best practices for Azure Firewall DNS proxy/caching, rule and SNAT tuning, using Policy Analytics to refine rules, and hardening firewall security and configuration |
25| Decision Making | L49-L56 | Guidance on selecting the right Azure Firewall SKU (Basic/Standard/Premium) using features, performance benchmarks, and deployment steps for Basic with portal and policy. |
26| Architecture & Design Patterns | L57-L67 | Designing Azure Firewall network architectures: multi-hub/spoke routing, forced tunneling, load balancer integration, control traffic, AVD/M365 protection, and DNAT for overlapping IP spaces. |
27| Limits & Quotas | L68-L76 | Azure Firewall capacity, IP and SNAT port limits, prescaling options, TCP idle timeouts, and how to scale/extend outbound connectivity (including via NAT Gateway V2). |
28| Security | L77-L90 | Securing Azure Firewall: policies, roles/permissions, TLS inspection certs, threat intelligence, AKS and hybrid protection, DNAT inbound rules, and portal-based deployment/configuration. |
29| Configuration | L91-L112 | Configuring Azure Firewall behavior: rules, IP groups, DNS, SNAT, dual-stack, HTTP/FTP/SQL settings, logging/monitoring, maintenance windows, and advanced Premium features. |
30| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L113-L117 | Configuring Azure Firewall to securely access Azure Storage via SFTP, including required rules, network paths, and integration patterns for SFTP traffic. |
31| Deployment | L118-L126 | Guides for deploying Azure Firewall (Standard/Premium), switching SKUs, using Bicep/ARM/Terraform, configuring IP Groups, and integrating with Azure DDoS Protection. |
32
33### Troubleshooting
34| Topic | URL |
35|-------|-----|
36| Detect and investigate malware using Sentinel with Azure Firewall logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/detect-malware-with-sentinel |
37| Troubleshoot Azure Firewall using packet capture | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/packet-capture |
38
39### Best Practices
40| Topic | URL |
41|-------|-----|
42| Understand Azure Firewall DNS proxy behavior and caching | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/dns-details |
43| Optimize Azure Firewall performance with rule and SNAT tuning | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-best-practices |
44
45### Decision Making
46| Topic | URL |
47|-------|-----|
48| Select the appropriate Azure Firewall SKU | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/choose-firewall-sku |
49| Deploy Azure Firewall Basic with portal and policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/deploy-firewall-basic-portal-policy |
50| Choose the right Azure Firewall SKU by features | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/features-by-sku |
51| Choose Azure Firewall SKU based on performance benchmarks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-performance |
52
53### Architecture & Design Patterns
54| Topic | URL |
55|-------|-----|
56| Architect multi-hub and spoke routing with Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-multi-hub-spoke |
57| Design Azure Firewall forced tunneling architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/forced-tunneling |
58| Design Azure Firewall with Standard Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/integrate-lb |
59| Use Azure Firewall Management NIC for control traffic | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/management-nic |
60| Architect Azure Firewall protection for Azure Virtual Desktop | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/protect-azure-virtual-desktop |
61| Design Azure Firewall protection for Microsoft 365 traffic | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/protect-office-365 |
62| Use private IP DNAT for overlapped Azure networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-private-ip-dnat |
63
64### Limits & Quotas
65| Topic | URL |
66|-------|-----|
67| Deploy Azure Firewall with multiple public IPs and limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/deploy-multi-public-ip-powershell |
68| Scale Azure Firewall SNAT ports and IP limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/integrate-with-nat-gateway |
69| Integrate Azure Firewall with NAT Gateway V2 for SNAT scaling | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/integrate-with-nat-gateway-v2 |
70| Configure Azure Firewall prescaling capacity ranges | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/prescaling |
71| Configure Azure Firewall TCP session idle timeouts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tcp-session-behavior |
72
73### Security
74| Topic | URL |
75|-------|-----|
76| Enforce Azure Firewall security using Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-azure-policy |
77| Configure TLS inspection certificates for Firewall Premium | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/premium-certificates |
78| Configure Enterprise CA certificates for Firewall Premium TLS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/premium-deploy-certificates-enterprise-ca |
79| Protect AKS clusters using Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/protect-azure-kubernetes-service |
80| Azure Firewall roles, permissions, and required access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/roles-permissions |
81| Apply security best practices to Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/secure-firewall |
82| Configure Azure Firewall threat intelligence filtering | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/threat-intel |
83| Deploy and configure Azure Firewall in portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-firewall-deploy-portal |
84| Configure Azure Firewall DNAT for inbound filtering | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-firewall-dnat |
85| Configure Azure Firewall for hybrid network security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-hybrid-portal |
86
87### Configuration
88| Topic | URL |
89|-------|-----|
90| Configure HTTP header insertion in Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/configure-http-header-insertion |
91| Create and manage Azure Firewall IP Groups | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/create-ip-group |
92| Set customer-controlled maintenance windows for Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/customer-controlled-maintenance |
93| Configure Azure Firewall dual stack IPv4/IPv6 mode | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/deploy-dual-stack-firewall |
94| Bulk manage Azure Firewall rules with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/deploy-rules-powershell |
95| Configure DNS servers and DNS proxy for Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/dns-settings |
96| Use Azure Firewall Policy Draft and Deployment | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/draft-deploy |
97| Analyze Azure Firewall data using workbooks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-workbook |
98| Use Azure Firewall FQDN tags in application rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/fqdn-tags |
99| Configure FTP modes and security on Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/ftp-support |
100| Configure and use IP Groups in Azure Firewall rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/ip-groups |
101| Configure monitoring and logging for Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/monitor-firewall |
102| Use Azure Firewall monitoring logs and metrics reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/monitor-firewall-reference |
103| Implement Azure Firewall Premium advanced features | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/premium-features |
104| Track Azure Firewall rule changes with Resource Graph | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/rule-set-change-tracking |
105| Configure SNAT private IP ranges in Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/snat-private-range |
106| Configure Azure Firewall application rules with SQL FQDNs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/sql-fqdn-filtering |
107| Configure Azure Firewall DNAT policy for inbound traffic | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-firewall-dnat-policy |
108
109### Integrations & Coding Patterns
110| Topic | URL |
111|-------|-----|
112| Access Azure Storage via SFTP through Azure Firewall | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/firewall-sftp |
113
114### Deployment
115| Topic | URL |
116|-------|-----|
117| Change Azure Firewall SKU between Standard and Premium | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/change-sku |
118| Deploy and configure Azure Firewall Premium environments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/premium-deploy |
119| Deploy Azure Firewall and IP Groups using Bicep | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/quick-create-ipgroup-bicep |
120| Deploy Azure Firewall and IP Groups via ARM template | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/quick-create-ipgroup-template |
121| Deploy Azure Firewall and IP Groups using Terraform | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/quick-create-ipgroup-terraform |
122| Deploy Azure Firewall with Azure DDoS Protection | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/tutorial-protect-firewall-ddos |
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