Configure Azure API Management as an AI Gateway for AI models, MCP tools, and agents. WHEN: semantic caching, token limit, content safety, load balancing, AI model governance, MCP rate limiting, jailbreak detection, add Azure OpenAI backend, add AI Foundry model, test AI gateway, LLM policies, configure AI backend, token metrics, AI cost control, convert API to MCP, import OpenAPI to 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.
| 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" |
| Policy | Purpose | Details |
|---|---|---|
azure-openai-token-limit | Cost control | Model Policies |
azure-openai-semantic-cache-lookup/store | 60-80% cost savings | Model Policies |
azure-openai-emit-token-metric | Observability | Model Policies |
llm-content-safety | Safety & compliance | Agent Policies |
rate-limit-by-key | MCP/tool protection | Tool Policies |
# 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>
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}'
See references/patterns.md for full steps.
# 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>
Recommended policy order in <inbound>:
See references/policies.md for complete example.
| 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 for details.