azure-waf

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name: azure-waf description: Provides Azure Well-Architected Framework (WAF) guidance for all 5 pillars: Reliability, Security, Cost Optimization, Operational Excellence, Performance Efficiency. Use when conducting WAF reviews, assessing security baselines, optimizing costs, or asking Stratus (Azure Infrastructure agent) about architecture decisions.

Azure Well-Architected Framework Guidelines

MCP-First: Query Current Documentation

Before using the static reference below, query these MCP tools for current information:

Microsoft Learn MCP

1. microsoft_docs_search: query="Azure Well-Architected Framework [pillar]"
2. microsoft_docs_fetch: url from search results for complete content

Recommended queries by pillar:

• "Azure Well-Architected reliability patterns"
• "Azure Well-Architected security best practices"
• "Azure Well-Architected cost optimization"
• "Azure Well-Architected operational excellence"
• "Azure Well-Architected performance efficiency"

For specific resources:

• "Azure [resource type] well-architected checklist"
• "Azure [resource type] reliability best practices"

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Static Reference (Fallback)

Use this section only when MCP tools are unavailable or return no results.

The Five Pillars

1. Reliability

• Design for failure - assume components will fail
• Use availability zones and regions for redundancy
• Implement health probes and automatic failover
• Define and test disaster recovery procedures
• Set appropriate SLAs based on business requirements

2. Security

• Apply defense in depth with multiple security layers
• Use managed identities instead of credentials
• Encrypt data at rest and in transit
• Implement network segmentation and private endpoints
• Follow least privilege access principles
• Enable Microsoft Defender for Cloud

3. Cost Optimization

• Right-size resources based on actual usage
• Use reserved instances for predictable workloads
• Implement auto-scaling to match demand
• Tag resources for cost allocation and tracking
• Review and act on Azure Advisor cost recommendations
• Consider spot instances for fault-tolerant workloads

4. Operational Excellence

• Automate deployments with Infrastructure as Code
• Implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting
• Use Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights
• Define runbooks for common operational tasks
• Practice incident response through game days

5. Performance Efficiency

• Select appropriate SKUs for workload requirements
• Use caching to reduce latency (Azure Cache for Redis)
• Implement CDN for static content delivery
• Design for horizontal scaling over vertical scaling
• Monitor and optimize query performance

Application to Azure Resources

When creating or reviewing Azure resources:

1. Virtual Networks: Use NSGs, enable DDoS protection, plan address spaces for growth
2. Storage Accounts: Enable soft delete, use private endpoints, implement lifecycle management
3. Key Vault: Use for all secrets, enable soft delete and purge protection
4. App Services: Use deployment slots, enable always-on, configure health checks
5. Databases: Enable geo-replication, configure backup retention, use private endpoints

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Fallback Reference Links

Only provide these if MCP returned no results and user needs persistent links:

• Azure Well-Architected Framework
• WAF Assessment Tool