azure-nhs-deploy

name	azure-nhs-deploy
description	Use when deploying an NHS Python/FastAPI service to Azure using Terraform, or configuring App Service, Key Vault, or Application Insights.

Azure NHS Deploy — Terraform to Azure UK South

This skill provides step-by-step guidance for deploying an NHS Python/FastAPI + React service to Azure using Terraform. All infrastructure uses Azure UK South for data sovereignty compliance.

When to Use

• Scaffolding Terraform for a new NHS service
• Deploying infrastructure with terraform apply
• Configuring App Service settings, Key Vault, or Application Insights
• Troubleshooting Azure deployment failures

Architecture

All resource names use var.app_name so multiple Alphas can coexist in one subscription:

Resource Group (rg-{app_name}-{env})
├── App Service Plan (asp-{app_name}-{env}, Linux, B1)
├── Linux Web App (app-{app_name}-{env}, Python 3.12)
├── User Assigned Managed Identity
├── Key Vault (kv-{app_name}-{env})
│   └── Access Policy → Managed Identity (get, list secrets)
└── Application Insights (ai-{app_name}-{env})

Deployment Steps

1. Scaffold Terraform

Create infra/ with main.tf, variables.tf, outputs.tf. Define:

• variable "app_name" — required, the service name
• variable "environment" — default "dev"
• All azurerm resources using "${var.app_name}-${var.environment}" naming

2. Initialise and Plan

cd infra
terraform init
terraform plan -var="app_name=my-service" -out=tfplan

3. Review the plan before applying

Always read the tfplan output before running apply. Resources being destroyed or recreated without warning have delayed deployments — never apply a plan you have not inspected.

Generate a machine- and human-readable view of the plan:

terraform show tfplan            # full human-readable review of what will change
terraform show -no-color tfplan  # capture this output to summarise for the user

The agent must summarise this plan back to the user and wait for explicit confirmation before running apply. Present the summary as:

• The final summary line, e.g. Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.
• A short bullet list of every resource grouped by action, using the change symbols:
  • + create — a new resource
  • ~ update in place — safe change
  • - destroy — the resource will be deleted
  • -/+ destroy and then create replacement — the resource will be recreated (existing data, such as Key Vault contents, may be lost)
• An explicit call-out of any - (destroy) or -/+ (recreate) resources.

If anything is unexpectedly marked - or -/+, stop and investigate before applying. Only proceed to apply once the user has confirmed the summary.

4. Apply

terraform apply tfplan

5. Build Frontend & Deploy

cd ../frontend && npm run build && cd ..
zip -r app.zip app/ frontend/dist/ requirements.txt
az webapp deploy \
  --resource-group "rg-${APP_NAME}-dev" \
  --name "app-${APP_NAME}-dev" \
  --src-path app.zip \
  --type zip

6. Configure Startup Command

az webapp config set \
  --resource-group "rg-${APP_NAME}-dev" \
  --name "app-${APP_NAME}-dev" \
  --startup-file "uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000"

7. Verify

curl "https://app-${APP_NAME}-dev.azurewebsites.net/api/health"

Key Terraform Resources

Resource	Terraform Type
Resource Group	azurerm_resource_group
App Service Plan	azurerm_service_plan
Web App	azurerm_linux_web_app
Key Vault	azurerm_key_vault
Key Vault Access Policy	azurerm_key_vault_access_policy
Managed Identity	azurerm_user_assigned_identity
Application Insights	azurerm_application_insights

Rules

• Region: always uksouth — other regions might be allowd for development but production must be UK South
• Identity: always Managed Identity — never service principal secrets
• Secrets: always Key Vault — never hardcode or use app settings directly
• TLS: minimum 1.2, HTTPS only
• Tags: project = var.app_name, environment = var.environment
• Naming: always include var.app_name — multiple Alphas may share a subscription
• Plan review: always inspect tfplan before apply, summarise it for the user, and wait for confirmation — never apply a plan with unexpected - (destroy) or -/+ (recreate) changes

References

• Terraform azurerm provider
• Azure App Service Python docs