---
name: Azure AI Gateway
slug: azure-ai-gateway
category: AI Engineering
description: Azure AI Gateway configures Azure API Management as an AI gateway for governing AI models, MCP tools, and agents. Use it for semantic caching, token limits, content safety, load balancing, and AI cost control.
github: "https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills/tree/main/skills/azure-aigateway"
language: Python
stars: 1390
forks: 231
install: "npx degit https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills/tree/main/skills/azure-aigateway ~/.claude/skills/azure-aigateway"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/azure-aigateway
source_path: skills/azure-aigateway/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 2451
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/microsoft/azure-skills"
added: 2026-08-19T07:27:36.793Z
last_synced: 2026-08-19T07:27:36.793Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/azure-ai-gateway"
---

# Azure AI Gateway

Azure AI Gateway configures Azure API Management as an AI gateway for governing AI models, MCP tools, and agents. Use it for semantic caching, token limits, content safety, load balancing, and AI cost control.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills/tree/main/skills/azure-aigateway ~/.claude/skills/azure-aigateway
```

## README

# Azure AI Gateway

Configure Azure API Management (APIM) as an AI Gateway for governing AI models, MCP tools, and agents.

> **To deploy APIM**, use the **azure-prepare** skill. See [APIM deployment guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/api-management/get-started-create-service-instance).

## When to Use This Skill

| Category | Triggers |
|----------|----------|
| **Model Governance** | "semantic caching", "token limits", "load balance AI", "track token usage" |
| **Tool Governance** | "rate limit MCP", "protect my tools", "configure my tool", "convert API to MCP" |
| **Agent Governance** | "content safety", "jailbreak detection", "filter harmful content" |
| **Configuration** | "add Azure OpenAI backend", "configure my model", "add AI Foundry model" |
| **Testing** | "test AI gateway", "call OpenAI through gateway" |

---

## Quick Reference

| Policy | Purpose | Details |
|--------|---------|---------|
| `azure-openai-token-limit` | Cost control | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#token-rate-limiting) |
| `azure-openai-semantic-cache-lookup/store` | 60-80% cost savings | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#semantic-caching) |
| `azure-openai-emit-token-metric` | Observability | [Model Policies](references/policies.md#token-metrics) |
| `llm-content-safety` | Safety & compliance | [Agent Policies](references/policies.md#content-safety) |
| `rate-limit-by-key` | MCP/tool protection | [Tool Policies](references/policies.md#request-rate-limiting) |

---

## Get Gateway Details

```bash
# Get gateway URL
az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv

# List backends (AI models)
az apim backend list --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> \
  --query "[].{id:name, url:url}" -o table

# Get subscription key
az apim subscription keys list \
  --service-name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --subscription-id <sub-id>
```

---

## Test AI Endpoint

```bash
GATEWAY_URL=$(az apim show --name <apim-name> --resource-group <rg> --query "gatewayUrl" -o tsv)

curl -X POST "${GATEWAY_URL}/openai/deployments/<deployment>/chat/completions?api-version=2024-02-01" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: <key>" \
  -d '{"messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}], "max_tokens": 100}'
```

---

## Common Tasks

### Add AI Backend

See [references/patterns.md](references/patterns.md#pattern-1-add-ai-model-backend) for full steps.

```bash
# Discover AI resources
az cognitiveservices account list --query "[?kind=='OpenAI']" -o table

# Create backend
az apim backend create --service-name <apim> --resource-group <rg> \
  --backend-id openai-backend --protocol http --url "https://<aoai>.openai.azure.com/openai"

# Grant access (managed identity)
az role assignment create --assignee <apim-principal-id> \
  --role "Cognitive Services User" --scope <aoai-resource-id>
```

### Apply AI Governance Policy

Recommended policy order in `<inbound>`:

1. **Authentication** - Managed identity to backend
2. **Semantic Cache Lookup** - Check cache before calling AI
3. **Token Limits** - Cost control
4. **Content Safety** - Filter harmful content
5. **Backend Selection** - Load balancing
6. **Metrics** - Token usage tracking

See [references/policies.md](references/policies.md#combining-policies) for complete example.

---

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Token limit 429 | Increase `tokens-per-minute` or add load balancing |
| No cache hits | Lower `score-threshold` to 0.7 |
| Content false positives | Increase category thresholds (5-6) |
| Backend auth 401 | Grant APIM "Cognitive Services User" role |

See [references/troubleshooting.md](references/troubleshooting.md) for details.

---

## References

- [**Detailed Policies**](references/policies.md) - Full policy examples
- [**Configuration Patterns**](references/patterns.md) - Step-by-step patterns
- [**Troubleshooting**](references/troubleshooting.md) - Common issues
- [AI-Gateway Samples](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/AI-Gateway)
- [GenAI Gateway Docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/api-management/genai-gateway-capabilities)

## SDK Quick References

- **Content Safety**: [Python](references/sdk/azure-ai-contentsafety-py.md) | [TypeScript](references/sdk/azure-ai-contentsafety-ts.md)
- **API Management**: [Python](references/sdk/azure-mgmt-apimanagement-py.md) | [.NET](references/sdk/azure-mgmt-apimanagement-dotnet.md)