Azure MCP Server

Overview

The Azure MCP server provides direct access to Azure services through structured tools, enabling richer data access than CLI commands alone.

Configuration

Add to your MCP configuration (.mcp.json or settings):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "azure": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@azure/mcp@latest", "server", "start"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Authentication

The Azure MCP server uses Azure CLI credentials by default.

Login First

# Interactive login
az login

# Device code flow (headless/remote)
az login --use-device-code

# Set subscription
az account set --subscription "Subscription Name"

Service Principal (CI/CD)

Set environment variables:

• •AZURE_TENANT_ID
• •AZURE_CLIENT_ID
• •AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET

Enabling the MCP Server

In Claude Code

1. •Run /mcp to view MCP servers
2. •Enable the Azure MCP server
3. •Or run /azure:setup for guided configuration

Verify Connection

After enabling, verify tools are available:

• •Check /azure:status
• •Try azure__subscription_list to list subscriptions

Benefits Over CLI

Troubleshooting

Server Not Starting

1. •Ensure Node.js 18+ is installed
2. •Check npx is available
3. •Verify network access to npm registry

Authentication Errors

1. •Run az login to refresh credentials
2. •Check subscription is set: az account show
3. •Verify permissions on target resources

Tool Not Available

1. •Enable the Azure MCP server first
2. •Check server is connected in /mcp
3. •Some tools require specific permissions

Fallback to CLI

When MCP is unavailable, use Azure CLI directly:

# List subscriptions
az account list --output table

# List resources
az resource list -g RESOURCE_GROUP --output table

See cli/cheatsheet.md for common CLI commands.

Tool Reference

The Azure MCP server exposes two types of tools:

• •Standalone tools: Called directly (e.g., azure__subscription_list)
• •Hierarchical tools: Called with a command parameter (e.g., azure__deploy with command deploy_plan_get)

Core Operations

Storage

SQL Database

Cosmos DB

Redis

Key Vault

RBAC

App Service

Functions

AKS

Container Apps

AI Search

Speech

Foundry

Monitoring

Deployment & Infrastructure

Best Practices

Documentation

CLI Helpers

CLI Install Tool

Parameters:
  - cli-type: "az" | "azd" | "func"

CLI Generate Tool

Parameters:
  - intent: Description of what you want to do
  - cli-type: "az"