version: "1.0.1" name: azure-network-watcher description: Expert knowledge for Azure Network Watcher development including troubleshooting, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when configuring Connection Monitor, NSG/VNet flow logs, packet capture, Traffic Analytics/KQL, or Sentinel integrations, and other Azure Network Watcher related development tasks. Not for Azure Monitor (use azure-monitor), Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network), Azure Networking (use azure-networking), Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager). compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation. metadata: generated_at: "2026-06-28" generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"
Azure Network Watcher Skill
This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Network Watcher. Covers troubleshooting, decision making, 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 | |
|---|
| Troubleshooting | L34-L44 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure network issues: outbound connectivity, NSG/admin rules, and VPN gateway/on-premises connectivity, including automation and CLI/PowerShell-based troubleshooting. | |
| Decision Making | L45-L51 | Guidance for migrating network monitoring: moving from classic Connection Monitor and Network Performance Monitor tests, and switching NSG flow logs to VNet flow logs. | |
| Limits & Quotas | L52-L56 | How to configure and run Network Watcher packet capture, storage and filtering options, and the key limits/quotas (size, duration, concurrency) that apply to captures | |
| Security | L57-L64 | Securing Network Watcher: RBAC setup, hardening deployments and data access, Zero Trust segmentation with Traffic Analytics, and protecting VNet flow logs using managed identities. | |
| Configuration | L65-L78 | Configuring and governing Network Watcher logging: AMA for Connection Monitor, NSG/VNet flow logs setup, schemas, filtering, templates (Bicep/ARM), and Azure Policy enforcement. | |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L79-L84 | Using Network Watcher data in tools and code: parsing NSG flow logs with PowerShell, visualizing in Power BI, triggering packet capture from Functions, querying Traffic Analytics with KQL, and integrating with Sentinel. | |
Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Diagnose outbound connection issues with Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/connection-troubleshoot-manage | |
| Troubleshoot NSG and admin rules with NSG diagnostics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/diagnose-network-security-rules | |
| Resolve common Azure Network Watcher issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/frequently-asked-questions | |
| Diagnose on-premises VPN connectivity to Azure with Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/network-watcher-diagnose-on-premises-connectivity | |
| Automate VPN connectivity monitoring with Azure Automation and Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/network-watcher-monitor-with-azure-automation | |
| Troubleshoot VPN gateways and connections with Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vpn-troubleshoot-cli | |
| Troubleshoot VPN gateways and connections with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vpn-troubleshoot-powershell | |
Decision Making
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Migrate from Connection Monitor classic to new Connection Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/migrate-to-connection-monitor-from-connection-monitor-classic | |
| Migrate tests from Network Performance Monitor to Connection Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/migrate-to-connection-monitor-from-network-performance-monitor | |
| Migrate from NSG flow logs to VNet flow logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/nsg-flow-logs-migrate | |
Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Use Network Watcher packet capture and understand its limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/packet-capture-overview | |
Security
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Configure RBAC permissions for Azure Network Watcher | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/required-rbac-permissions | |
| Secure Azure Network Watcher deployment and data access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/secure-network-watcher | |
| Apply Zero Trust segmentation using Traffic Analytics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/traffic-analytics-zero-trust | |
| Secure VNet flow logs with managed identities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-managed-identity | |
Configuration
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Install and manage Azure Monitor Agent on Arc servers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/connection-monitor-install-azure-monitor-agent | |
| Understand Connection Monitor Log Analytics data schemas | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/connection-monitor-schema | |
| Enable NSG flow logs using Bicep | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/nsg-flow-logs-bicep | |
| Configure and manage Azure NSG flow logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/nsg-flow-logs-manage | |
| Enable NSG flow logs using ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/nsg-flow-logs-template | |
| Govern Traffic Analytics with Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/traffic-analytics-policy-portal | |
| Understand Traffic Analytics schema and aggregation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/traffic-analytics-schema | |
| Configure filtering for Azure VNet flow logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-filtering | |
| Configure and manage Azure virtual network flow logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-manage | |
| Enforce VNet flow logs with Azure Policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-policy | |
Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL | |
|---|
| Parse and read Azure flow logs with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/flow-logs-read | |
| Trigger Network Watcher packet captures from Azure Functions alerts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/packet-capture-alert-triggered | |
| Analyze Traffic Analytics data with KQL queries | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/traffic-analytics-queries | |