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azure-aigateway▌

microsoft/azure-skills · updated Apr 8, 2026

$npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-aigateway
summary

Configure Azure API Management as an AI Gateway for models, MCP tools, and agents with built-in governance policies.

  • ›Supports semantic caching (60-80% cost savings), token rate limiting, content safety filtering, and jailbreak detection across AI backends
  • ›Add Azure OpenAI, AI Foundry models, or convert existing APIs to MCP tools as managed backends with load balancing
  • ›Includes five core policy categories: authentication, semantic cache lookup, token limits, content safety, and token
skill.md

Azure AI Gateway

Configure Azure API Management (APIM) as an AI Gateway for governing AI models, MCP tools, and agents.

To deploy APIM, use the azure-prepare skill. See APIM deployment guide.

When to Use This Skill

Category Triggers
Model Governance "semantic caching", "token limits", "load balance AI", "track token usage"
Tool Governance "rate limit MCP", "protect my tools", "configure my tool", "convert API to MCP"
Agent Governance "content safety", "jailbreak detection", "filter harmful content"
Configuration "add Azure OpenAI backend", "configure my model", "add AI Foundry model"
Testing "test AI gateway", "call OpenAI through gateway"

Quick Reference

Policy Purpose Details
azure-openai-token-limit Cost control Model Policies
azure-openai-semantic-cache-lookup/store 60-80% cost savings Model Policies
azure-openai-emit-token-metric Observability Model Policies
llm-content-safety Safety & compliance Agent Policies
rate-limit-by-key MCP/tool protection Tool Policies

Get Gateway Details

# Get gateway URL
az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv

# List backends (AI models)
az apim backend list --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> \
  --query "[].{id:name, url:url}" -o table

# Get subscription key
az apim subscription keys list \
  --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --subscription-id <sub-id>

Test AI Endpoint

GATEWAY_URL=$(az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv)

curl -X POST "${GATEWAY_URL}/openai/deployments/<deployment>/chat/completions?api-version=2024-02-01" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: <key>" \
  -d '{"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}], "max_tokens": 100}'

Common Tasks

Add AI Backend

See references/patterns.md for full steps.

# Discover AI resources
az cognitiveservices account list --query "[?kind=='OpenAI']" -o table

# Create backend
az apim backend create --service-name <apim> --resource-group <rg> \
  --backend-id openai-backend --protocol http --url "https://<aoai>.openai.azure.com/openai"

# Grant access (managed identity)
az role assignment create --assignee <apim-principal-id> \
  --role "Cognitive Services User" --scope <aoai-resource-id>

Apply AI Governance Policy

Recommended policy order in <inbound>:

  1. Authentication - Managed identity to backend
  2. Semantic Cache Lookup - Check cache before calling AI
  3. Token Limits - Cost control
  4. Content Safety - Filter harmful content
  5. Backend Selection - Load balancing
  6. Metrics - Token usage tracking

See references/policies.md for complete example.

Troubleshooting

Issue Solution
Token limit 429 Increase tokens-per-minute or add load balancing
No cache hits Lower score-threshold to 0.7
Content false positives Increase category thresholds (5-6)
Backend auth 401 Grant APIM "Cognitive Services User" role

See references/troubleshooting.md for details.

References

SDK Quick References