version: "1.0.1" name: azure-bastion description: 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). compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation. metadata: generated_at: "2026-08-16" generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"
Azure Bastion Skill
This 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.
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 | |
|---|
| 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. | |
| Decision Making | L40-L46 | Guidance on choosing and upgrading Bastion SKU tiers and using IP-based Bastion connections across VNets, subscriptions, and environments. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Security | L59-L65 | Configuring secure Azure Bastion access: Entra ID auth setup, NSG rule hardening, and applying security benchmark best practices for Bastion deployments. | |
| Configuration | L66-L77 | Configuring Bastion settings, Kerberos, monitoring/diagnostics, metrics/logs, native client access, session monitoring/recording, and shareable links for secure remote access. | |
| 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. | |
Best Practices
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Optimize Azure Bastion costs without reducing security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/cost-optimization | |
Decision Making
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Select the appropriate Azure Bastion SKU tier | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-sku-comparison | |
| Use Azure Bastion IP-based connections across environments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-ip-address | |
| View and upgrade Azure Bastion SKU tiers safely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/upgrade-sku | |
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Understand Azure Bastion deployment architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/design-architecture | |
| Design and deploy private-only Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/private-only-deployment | |
| Use Azure Bastion with VNet peering architectures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/vnet-peering | |
Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Configure Azure Bastion host scaling limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/configure-host-scaling | |
Security
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Configure Entra ID authentication for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-entra-id-authentication | |
| Configure Azure Bastion NSG rules for secure access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-nsg | |
| Secure Azure Bastion deployments using benchmark guidance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/secure-bastion | |
Configuration
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Understand and manage Azure Bastion configuration settings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/configuration-settings | |
| Configure Kerberos authentication for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/kerberos-authentication-portal | |
| Configure monitoring and diagnostics for Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/monitor-bastion | |
| Reference Azure Bastion monitoring metrics and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/monitor-bastion-reference | |
| Configure Azure Bastion for native client access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/native-client | |
| Monitor and manage active Azure Bastion sessions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/session-monitoring | |
| Configure and use Azure Bastion session recording | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/session-recording | |
| Create and manage Azure Bastion shareable links | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/shareable-link | |
Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Connect to AKS private clusters via Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-connect-to-aks-private-cluster | |
| Connect to VM scale sets using Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/bastion-connect-vm-scale-set | |
| Connect from Linux native clients through Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-vm-native-client-linux | |
| Connect from Windows native clients through Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/connect-vm-native-client-windows | |
| Transfer files via Azure Bastion native clients | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/bastion/vm-upload-download-native | |