azure-resource-lookup

Name: azure-resource-lookup
Author: microsoft

Fast discovery and inventory of Azure resources across subscriptions using Resource Graph queries. Queries any Azure resource type (VMs, storage accounts, web apps, container apps, Key Vaults, etc.) across subscriptions and resource groups in a single command Supports cross-cutting searches for orphaned resources, missing tags, unhealthy states, and resource inventory counts Routes single-resource-type queries to dedicated MCP tools when available; falls back to Azure Resource Graph for broader or unsupported resource types Uses KQL (Kusto Query Language) for flexible filtering, with built-in error handling for authorization, syntax, and scope issues

INSTALLATION

npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-resource-lookup

Run in your project or agent environment. Adjust flags if your CLI version differs.

SKILL.md

Azure Resource Lookup

List, find, and discover Azure resources of any type across subscriptions and resource groups. Use Azure Resource Graph (ARG) for fast, cross-cutting queries when dedicated MCP tools don't cover the resource type.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user wants to:

List resources of any type (VMs, web apps, storage accounts, container apps, databases, etc.)

Show resources in a specific subscription or resource group

Query resources across multiple subscriptions or resource types

Find orphaned resources (unattached disks, unused NICs, idle IPs)

Discover resources missing required tags or configurations

Get a resource inventory spanning multiple types

Find resources in a specific state (unhealthy, failed provisioning, stopped)

Answer "what resources do I have?" or "show me my Azure resources"

List web apps, websites, or App Services

⚠️ Warning: App Service / Web Apps have no dedicated MCP list command. Prompts like "list websites", "list web apps", or "list app services" must route through this skill to use Azure Resource Graph.

💡 Tip: For single-resource-type queries, first check if a dedicated MCP tool can handle it (see routing table below). If none exists, use Azure Resource Graph.

Quick Reference

Property	Value
Query Language	KQL (Kusto Query Language subset)
CLI Command	`az graph query -q " " -o table`
Extension	`az extension add --name resource-graph`
MCP Tool	`extension_cli_generate` with intent for `az graph query`
Best For	Cross-subscription queries, orphaned resources, tag audits

MCP Tools

Tool	Purpose	When to Use
`extension_cli_generate`	Generate `az graph query` commands	Primary tool — generate ARG queries from user intent
`mcp_azure_mcp_subscription_list`	List available subscriptions	Discover subscription scope before querying
`mcp_azure_mcp_group_list`	List resource groups	Narrow query scope

Workflow

Step 1: Check for a Dedicated MCP Tool

For single-resource-type queries, check if a dedicated MCP tool can handle it:

Resource Type	MCP Tool	Coverage
Virtual Machines	`compute`	✅ Full — list, details, sizes
Storage Accounts	`storage`	✅ Full — accounts, blobs, tables
Cosmos DB	`cosmos`	✅ Full — accounts, databases, queries
Key Vault	`keyvault`	⚠️ Partial — secrets/keys only, no vault listing
SQL Databases	`sql`	⚠️ Partial — requires resource group name
Container Registries	`acr`	✅ Full — list registries
Kubernetes (AKS)	`aks`	✅ Full — clusters, node pools
App Service / Web Apps	`appservice`	❌ No list command — use ARG
Container Apps	—	❌ No MCP tool — use ARG
Event Hubs	`eventhubs`	✅ Full — namespaces, hubs
Service Bus	`servicebus`	✅ Full — queues, topics

If a dedicated tool is available with full coverage, use it. Otherwise proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Generate the ARG Query

Use extension_cli_generate to build the az graph query command:

mcp_azure_mcp_extension_cli_generate

  intent: "query Azure Resource Graph to <user's request>"

  cli-type: "az"

See Azure Resource Graph Query Patterns for common KQL patterns.

Step 3: Execute and Format Results

Run the generated command. Use --query (JMESPath) to shape output:

az graph query -q "<KQL>" --query "data[].{name:name, type:type, rg:resourceGroup}" -o table

Use --first N to limit results. Use --subscriptions to scope.

Error Handling

Error	Cause	Fix
`resource-graph extension not found`	Extension not installed	`az extension add --name resource-graph`
`AuthorizationFailed`	No read access to subscription	Check RBAC — need Reader role
`BadRequest` on query	Invalid KQL syntax	Verify table/column names; use `=~` for case-insensitive type matching
Empty results	No matching resources or wrong scope	Check `--subscriptions` flag; verify resource type spelling

Constraints

✅ Always use =~ for case-insensitive type matching (types are lowercase)

✅ Always scope queries with --subscriptions or --first for large tenants

✅ Prefer dedicated MCP tools for single-resource-type queries

❌ Never use ARG for real-time monitoring (data has slight delay)

❌ Never attempt mutations through ARG (read-only)