Expert knowledge for Azure Dedicated HSM development including troubleshooting, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when sizing HSM clusters, configuring ExpressRoute IP SKUs, securing VNets, planning HSM retirement, or scripting CLI/PowerShell provisioning, and other Azure Dedicated HSM related development tasks. Not for Azure Cloud Hsm (use azure-cloud-hsm), Azure Key Vault (use azure-key-vault), Azure Payment Hsm (use azure-payment-hsm).
This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Dedicated HSM. Covers troubleshooting, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, 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
Category
Lines
Description
Troubleshooting
L34-L39
Diagnosing and fixing common Azure Dedicated HSM issues, including deployment failures, connectivity, configuration, and operational problems during setup and usage.
Decision Making
L40-L44
Guidance on Dedicated HSM retirement, choosing successors (Managed/Cloud HSM), and planning/migrating ExpressRoute IPs and HSM workloads to new SKUs or services.
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 hardware and best‑practice configuration guidance (networking, access, policies) to securely deploy and operate HSMs.
Integrations & Coding Patterns
L58-L65
Scripts and step-by-step guidance for provisioning and deploying Azure Dedicated HSM instances using PowerShell and Azure CLI.
Deployment
L66-L69
Guidance for migrating the ExpressRoute gateway IP SKU used with Azure Dedicated HSM, including steps, prerequisites, and configuration considerations.
