azure-verified-modules

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha 7e824811cd58 · 22 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• Publisherhashicorp GitHub organizationOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source folderhashicorp/agent-skills/plugins/terraform/skills/azure-verified-modulesThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceMPL-2.0As the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdict7e824811cd58A new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 17 days ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its description: Azure Verified Modules (AVM) requirements and best practices for developing certified Azure Terraform modules. Use when creating or reviewing Azure modules that need AVM certification.

---
name: azure-verified-modules
description: Azure Verified Modules (AVM) requirements and best practices for developing certified Azure Terraform modules. Use when creating or reviewing Azure modules that need AVM certification.
metadata:
  lifecycle-status: active
---

# Azure Verified Modules (AVM) Requirements

This guide covers the mandatory requirements for Azure Verified Modules certification. These requirements ensure consistency, quality, and maintainability across Azure Terraform modules.

**References:**
- [Azure Verified Modules](https://azure.github.io/Azure-Verified-Modules/)
- [AVM Module Specifications](https://azure.github.io/Azure-Verified-Modules/specs/module-specs/)

## Table of Contents

- [Module Cross-Referencing](#module-cross-referencing)
- [Azure Provider Requirements](#azure-provider-requirements)
- [Code Style Standards](#code-style-standards)
- [Variable Requirements](#variable-requirements)
- [Output Requirements](#output-requirements)
- [Local Values Standards](#local-values-standards)
- [Terraform Configuration Requirements](#terraform-configuration-requirements)
- [Testing Requirements](#testing-requirements)
- [Documentation Requirements](#documentation-requirements)
- [Breaking Changes & Feature Management](#breaking-changes--feature-management)
- [Contribution Standards](#contribution-standards)
- [Compliance Checklist](#compliance-checklist)

---

## Module Cross-Referencing

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFFR1

When building Resource or Pattern modules, module owners **MAY** cross-reference other modules. However:

- Modules **MUST** be referenced using HashiCorp Terraform registry reference to a pinned version
  - Example: `source = "Azure/xxx/azurerm"` with `version = "1.2.3"`
- Modules **MUST NOT** use git references (e.g., `git::https://xxx.yyy/xxx.git` or `github.com/xxx/yyy`)
- Modules **MUST NOT** contain references to non-AVM modules

---

## Azure Provider Requirements

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFFR3

Authors **MUST** only use the following Azure providers:

| Provider | Min Version | Max Version |
|----------|-------------|-------------|
| azapi    | >= 2.0      | < 3.0       |
| azurerm  | >= 4.0      | < 5.0       |

**Requirements:**

- Authors **MAY** select either Azurerm, Azapi, or both providers
- **MUST** use `required_providers` block to enforce provider versions
- **SHOULD** use pessimistic version constraint operator (`~>`)

**Example:**

```hcl
terraform {
  required_providers {
    azurerm = {
      source  = "hashicorp/azurerm"
      version = "~> 4.0"
    }
    azapi = {
      source  = "Azure/azapi"
      version = "~> 2.0"
    }
  }
}
```

---

## Code Style Standards

### Lower snake_casing

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFNFR4

**MUST** use lower snake_casing for:

- Locals
- Variables
- Outputs
- Resources (symbolic names)
- Modules (symbolic names)

Example: `snake_casing_example`

### Resource & Data Source Ordering

**Severity:** SHOULD | **Requirement:** TFNFR6

- Resources that are depended on **SHOULD** come first
- Resources with dependencies **SHOULD** be defined close to each other

### Count & for_each Usage

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFNFR7

- Use `count` for conditional resource creation
- **MUST** use `map(xxx)` or `set(xxx)` as resource's `for_each` collection
- The map's key or set's element **MUST** be static literals

**Example:**

```hcl
resource "azurerm_subnet" "pair" {
  for_each             = var.subnet_map  # map(string)
  name                 = "${each.value}-pair"
  resource_group_name  = azurerm_resource_group.example.name
  virtual_network_name = azurerm_virtual_network.example.name
  address_prefixes     = ["10.0.1.0/24"]
}
```

### Resource & Data Block Internal Ordering

**Severity:** SHOULD | **Requirement:** TFNFR8

**Order within resource/data blocks:**

1. **Meta-arguments (top)**:
   - `provider`
   - `count`
   - `for_each`

2. **Arguments/blocks (middle, alphabetical)**:
   - Required arguments
   - Optional arguments
   - Required nested blocks
   - Optional nested blocks

3. **Meta-arguments (bottom)**:
   - `depends_on`
   - `lifecycle` (with sub-order: `create_before_destroy`, `ignore_changes`, `prevent_destroy`)

Separate sections with blank lines.

### Module Block Ordering

**Severity:** SHOULD | **Requirement:** TFNFR9

**Order within module blocks:**

1. **Top meta-arguments**:
   - `source`
   - `version`
   - `count`
   - `for_each`

2. **Arguments (alphabetical)**:
   - Required arguments
   - Optional arguments

3. **Bottom meta-arguments**:
   - `depends_on`
   - `providers`

### Lifecycle ignore_changes Syntax

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFNFR10

The `ignore_changes` attribute **MUST NOT** be enclosed in double quotes.

**Good:**

```hcl
lifecycle {
  ignore_changes = [tags]
}
```

**Bad:**

```hcl
lifecycle {
  ignore_changes = ["tags"]
}
```

### Null Comparison for Conditional Creation

**Severity:** SHOULD | **Requirement:** TFNFR11

For parameters requiring conditional resource creation, wrap with `object` type to avoid "known after apply" issues during plan stage.

**Recommended:**

```hcl
variable "security_group" {
  type = object({
    id = string
  })
  default = null
}
```

### Dynamic Blocks for Optional Nested Objects

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFNFR12

Nested blocks under conditions **MUST** use this pattern:

```hcl
dynamic "identity" {
  for_each = <condition> ? [<some_item>] : []

  content {
    # block content
  }
}
```

### Default Values with coalesce/try

**Severity:** SHOULD | **Requirement:** TFNFR13

**Good:**

```hcl
coalesce(var.new_network_security_group_name, "${var.subnet_name}-nsg")
```

**Bad:**

```hcl
var.new_network_security_group_name == null ? "${var.subnet_name}-nsg" : var.new_network_security_group_name
```

### Provider Declarations in Modules

**Severity:** MUST | **Requirement:** TFNFR27

- `provider` **MUST NOT** be declared in modules (except for `configuration_a

Excerpt, first 6,000 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

git clone https://github.com/hashicorp/agent-skills
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Works in

1. 2026-10-22
   ✓SAFE B 89 / 100

   first audit · source 7e824811cd58

Questions about azure-verified-modules

• github.com/hashicorp/agent-skills/tree/main/plugins/terraform/sk — the audited source at commit 7e824811cd58 and every finding aboveObserved · 22 Oct 2026

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