Azure Dedicated HSM Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Dedicated HSM. Covers troubleshooting, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, 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	L33-L37	Support boundaries between Microsoft, HSM vendors, and customers, plus diagnosing and resolving deployment, networking, and configuration issues for Azure Dedicated HSM.
Decision Making	L38-L44	FAQs, retirement timelines, and guidance for deciding whether to stay on Dedicated HSM or migrate to Managed/Cloud HSM and how to plan that migration.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L45-L51	Guidance on designing Dedicated HSM deployments: sizing and topology, high availability and failover patterns, and secure networking (VNet, subnets, routing, and connectivity).
Security	L52-L57	Physical security controls for Dedicated HSM devices and best-practice guidance for securing, configuring, and operating Azure Dedicated HSM in production environments.
Deployment	L58-L61	Guidance for migrating Azure Dedicated HSM ExpressRoute Gateway IP configuration from Basic to Standard, including steps, requirements, and network considerations.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Troubleshoot Azure Dedicated HSM deployment and configuration issues	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/troubleshoot

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Review Azure Dedicated HSM FAQs for capabilities and support	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/faq
Plan migration from Azure Dedicated HSM to Managed or Cloud HSM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/migration-guide
Understand Azure Dedicated HSM retirement and successors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/overview

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Design deployment architecture for Azure Dedicated HSM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/deployment-architecture
Design high availability for Azure Dedicated HSM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/high-availability
Plan networking architecture for Azure Dedicated HSM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/networking

Security

Topic	URL
Understand physical security of Azure Dedicated HSM devices	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/physical-security
Apply security best practices to Azure Dedicated HSM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/secure-dedicated-hsm

Deployment

Topic	URL
Migrate Dedicated HSM ExpressRoute Gateway Basic IP to Standard	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dedicated-hsm/migration-basic-standard