# Azure Kubernetes

Plan, create, and configure production-ready Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters.

- Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills (1609 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-kubernetes -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-kubernetes -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-kubernetes -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-kubernetes -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add microsoft/azure-skills`

## Description

Plan, create, and configure production-ready Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters. Covers Day-0 checklist, SKU selection (Automatic vs Standard), networking options (private API server, Azure CNI Overlay, egress configuration), security, and operations (autoscaling, upgrade strategy, cost analysis). WHEN: create AKS environment, provision AKS, enable AKS observability, design AKS networking, choose AKS SKU, secure AKS, optimize AKS, AKS spot nodes, AKS cluster-autoscaler, rightsize AKS pod, pod rightsizing, over-provisioned AKS pod, pod resource requests and limits, Vertical Pod Autoscaler, VPA recommendations.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Azure Kubernetes Service

> **AUTHORITATIVE GUIDANCE, MANDATORY COMPLIANCE**
>
> This skill produces a **recommended AKS cluster configuration** based on user requirements, distinguishing **Day-0 decisions** (networking, API server, hard to change later) from **Day-1 features** (can enable post-creation). See [CLI reference](./references/cli-reference.md) for commands.

## Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Best for | AKS cluster planning and Day-0 decisions |
| MCP Tools | `mcp_azure_mcp_aks` |
| CLI | `az aks create`, `az aks show`, `kubectl get`, `kubectl describe` |
| Related skills | azure-kubernetes-app-deploy (deploy an app to an existing cluster), azure-diagnostics (baseline AKS troubleshooting), azure-validate (readiness checks), azure-kubernetes-automatic-readiness (migrate existing cluster to AKS Automatic), optional `aks-skills` operations add-on (focused incident, advanced cost-efficiency, exact-signature, packet-capture, and GPU Day-2 workflows) |

## When to Use This Skill
Activate this skill when user wants to:
- Create a new AKS cluster
- Plan AKS cluster configuration for production workloads
- Design AKS networking (API server access, pod IP model, egress)
- Set up AKS identity and secrets management
- Configure AKS governance (Azure Policy, Deployment Safeguards)
- Enable AKS observability (Container Insights, Managed Prometheus, Grafana)
- Define AKS upgrade and patching strategy
- Understand AKS Automatic vs Standard SKU differences
- Get a Day-0 checklist for AKS cluster setup and configuration

> **Deploying an application to an existing cluster?** This skill provisions and
> configures the *cluster*. To containerize an app and deploy it to a cluster
> that already exists (Dockerfile + manifests + Deployment Safeguards), use the
> `azure-kubernetes-app-deploy` sub-skill instead.

The rest: https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills/blob/HEAD/.github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/azure-kubernetes/SKILL.md