# Azure Identity Java

> Azure Identity library for Java authentication with Azure services. Use when implementing DefaultAzureCredential, managed identity, service principal, or any Azure authentication pattern in Java applications.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-microsoft-skills-azure-identity-java`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [microsoft](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/microsoft)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Cloud & Infrastructure](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/cloud-infrastructure)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [microsoft](https://github.com/microsoft)
- **Source:** https://github.com/microsoft/skills/tree/main/.github/plugins/azure-sdk-java/skills/azure-identity-java
- **Website:** https://microsoft.github.io/skills/

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-microsoft-skills-azure-identity-java
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Azure Identity library for Java

Authentication library for Azure SDK clients using Microsoft Entra ID.

## Installation

```xml

    com.azure
    azure-identity
    1.15.0

```

## Key Concepts

| Credential | Use Case |
|------------|----------|
| `DefaultAzureCredential` | **Recommended** - Works in dev and production |
| `ManagedIdentityCredential` | Azure-hosted apps (App Service, Functions, VMs) |
| `EnvironmentCredential` | CI/CD pipelines with env vars |
| `ClientSecretCredential` | Service principals with secret |
| `ClientCertificateCredential` | Service principals with certificate |
| `AzureCliCredential` | Local dev using `az login` |
| `InteractiveBrowserCredential` | Interactive login flow |
| `DeviceCodeCredential` | Headless device authentication |

## DefaultAzureCredential (Recommended)

The `DefaultAzureCredential` tries multiple authentication methods in order. See [DefaultAzureCredential overview](https://aka.ms/azsdk/java/identity/credential-chains#defaultazurecredential-overview) for the current credential chain order and defaults.

```java
import com.azure.identity.DefaultAzureCredential;
import com.azure.identity.DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder;

// Simple usage
DefaultAzureCredential credential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder().build();

// Use with any Azure client
BlobServiceClient blobClient = new BlobServiceClientBuilder()
    .endpoint("https://.blob.core.windows.net")
    .credential(credential)
    .buildClient();

KeyClient keyClient = new KeyClientBuilder()
    .vaultUrl("https://.vault.azure.net")
    .credential(credential)
    .buildClient();
```

### Configure DefaultAzureCredential

```java
DefaultAzureCredential credential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .managedIdentityClientId("")  // For user-assigned MI
    .tenantId("")                                        // Limit to specific tenant
    .excludeEnvironmentCredential()                                 // Skip env vars
    .excludeAzureCliCredential()                                    // Skip Azure CLI
    .build();
```

## Managed Identity

For Azure-hosted applications (App Service, Functions, AKS, VMs).

```java
import com.azure.identity.ManagedIdentityCredential;
import com.azure.identity.ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder;

// System-assigned managed identity
ManagedIdentityCredential credential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
    .build();

// User-assigned managed identity (by client ID)
ManagedIdentityCredential credential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
    .clientId("")
    .build();

// User-assigned managed identity (by resource ID)
ManagedIdentityCredential credential = new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder()
    .resourceId("/subscriptions//resourceGroups//providers/Microsoft.ManagedIdentity/userAssignedIdentities/")
    .build();
```

## Service Principal with Secret

```java
import com.azure.identity.ClientSecretCredential;
import com.azure.identity.ClientSecretCredentialBuilder;

ClientSecretCredential credential = new ClientSecretCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")
    .clientId("")
    .clientSecret("")
    .build();
```

## Service Principal with Certificate

```java
import com.azure.identity.ClientCertificateCredential;
import com.azure.identity.ClientCertificateCredentialBuilder;

// From PEM file
ClientCertificateCredential credential = new ClientCertificateCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")
    .clientId("")
    .pemCertificate("")
    .build();

// From PFX file with password
ClientCertificateCredential credential = new ClientCertificateCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")
    .clientId("")
    .pfxCertificate("", "")
    .build();

// Send certificate chain for SNI
ClientCertificateCredential credential = new ClientCertificateCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")
    .clientId("")
    .pemCertificate("")
    .sendCertificateChain(true)
    .build();
```

## Environment Credential

Reads credentials from environment variables.

```java
import com.azure.identity.EnvironmentCredential;
import com.azure.identity.EnvironmentCredentialBuilder;

EnvironmentCredential credential = new EnvironmentCredentialBuilder().build();
```

### Required Environment Variables

**For service principal with secret:**

```bash
AZURE_TENANT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=
```

**For service principal with certificate:**

```bash
AZURE_TENANT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PATH=/path/to/cert.pem
AZURE_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD=
```

## Azure CLI Credential

For local development using `az login`.

```java
import com.azure.identity.AzureCliCredential;
import com.azure.identity.AzureCliCredentialBuilder;

AzureCliCredential credential = new AzureCliCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")  // Optional: specific tenant
    .build();
```

## Interactive Browser

For desktop applications requiring user login.

```java
import com.azure.identity.InteractiveBrowserCredential;
import com.azure.identity.InteractiveBrowserCredentialBuilder;

InteractiveBrowserCredential credential = new InteractiveBrowserCredentialBuilder()
    .clientId("")
    .redirectUrl("http://localhost:8080")  // Must match app registration
    .build();
```

## Device Code

For headless devices (IoT, CLI tools).

```java
import com.azure.identity.DeviceCodeCredential;
import com.azure.identity.DeviceCodeCredentialBuilder;

DeviceCodeCredential credential = new DeviceCodeCredentialBuilder()
    .clientId("")
    .challengeConsumer(challenge -> {
        // Display to user
        System.out.println(challenge.getMessage());
    })
    .build();
```

## Chained Credential

Create custom authentication chains.

```java
import com.azure.identity.ChainedTokenCredential;
import com.azure.identity.ChainedTokenCredentialBuilder;

ChainedTokenCredential credential = new ChainedTokenCredentialBuilder()
    .addFirst(new ManagedIdentityCredentialBuilder().build())
    .addLast(new AzureCliCredentialBuilder().build())
    .build();
```

## Workload Identity (AKS)

For Azure Kubernetes Service with workload identity.

```java
import com.azure.identity.WorkloadIdentityCredential;
import com.azure.identity.WorkloadIdentityCredentialBuilder;

// Reads from AZURE_TENANT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_FEDERATED_TOKEN_FILE
WorkloadIdentityCredential credential = new WorkloadIdentityCredentialBuilder().build();

// Or explicit configuration
WorkloadIdentityCredential credential = new WorkloadIdentityCredentialBuilder()
    .tenantId("")
    .clientId("")
    .tokenFilePath("/var/run/secrets/azure/tokens/azure-identity-token")
    .build();
```

## Token Caching

Enable persistent token caching for better performance.

```java
// Enable token caching (in-memory by default)
DefaultAzureCredential credential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .enableAccountIdentifierLogging()
    .build();

// With shared token cache (for multi-credential scenarios)
SharedTokenCacheCredential credential = new SharedTokenCacheCredentialBuilder()
    .clientId("")
    .build();
```

## Sovereign Clouds

```java
import com.azure.identity.AzureAuthorityHosts;

// Azure Government
DefaultAzureCredential govCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .authorityHost(AzureAuthorityHosts.AZURE_GOVERNMENT)
    .build();

// Azure China
DefaultAzureCredential chinaCredential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .authorityHost(AzureAuthorityHosts.AZURE_CHINA)
    .build();
```

## Error Handling

```java
import com.azure.identity.CredentialUnavailableException;
import com.azure.core.exception.ClientAuthenticationException;

try {
    DefaultAzureCredential credential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder().build();
    AccessToken token = credential.getToken(new TokenRequestContext()
        .addScopes("https://management.azure.com/.default"));
} catch (CredentialUnavailableException e) {
    // No credential could authenticate
    System.out.println("Authentication failed: " + e.getMessage());
} catch (ClientAuthenticationException e) {
    // Authentication error (wrong credentials, expired, etc.)
    System.out.println("Auth error: " + e.getMessage());
}
```

## Logging

Enable authentication logging for debugging.

```java
// Via environment variable
// AZURE_LOG_LEVEL=verbose

// Or programmatically
DefaultAzureCredential credential = new DefaultAzureCredentialBuilder()
    .enableAccountIdentifierLogging()  // Log account info
    .build();
```

## Environment Variables

```bash
# DefaultAzureCredential configuration
AZURE_TENANT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_ID=
AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=

# Managed Identity
AZURE_CLIENT_ID=

# Workload Identity (AKS)
AZURE_FEDERATED_TOKEN_FILE=/var/run/secrets/azure/tokens/azure-identity-token

# Logging
AZURE_LOG_LEVEL=verbose

# Authority host
AZURE_AUTHORITY_HOST=https://login.microsoftonline.com/
```

## Best Practices

1. **Use DefaultAzureCredential** - Works seamlessly from dev to production
2. **Managed Identity in Production** - No secrets to manage, automatic rotation
3. **Azure CLI for Local Dev** - Run `az login` before running your app
4. **Least Privilege** - Grant only required permissions to service principals
5. **Token Caching** - Enabled by default, reduces auth round-trips
6. **Environment Variables** - Use for CI/CD, not hardcoded secrets

## Credential Selection Matrix

| Environment | Recommended Credential |
|-------------|----------------------|
| Local Development | `DefaultAzureCredential` (uses Azure CLI) |
| Azure App Service | `DefaultAzureCredential` (uses Managed Identity) |
| Azure Functions | `DefaultAzureCredential` (uses Managed Identity) |
| Azure Kubernetes Service | `WorkloadIdentityCredential` |
| Azure VMs | `DefaultAzureCredential` (uses Managed Identity) |
| CI/CD Pipeline | `EnvironmentCredential` |
| Desktop App | `InteractiveBrowserCredential` |
| CLI Tool | `DeviceCodeCredential` |

## Trigger Phrases

- "Azure authentication Java", "DefaultAzureCredential Java"
- "managed identity Java", "service principal Java"
- "Azure login Java", "Azure credentials Java"
- "AZURE_CLIENT_ID", "AZURE_TENANT_ID"

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [microsoft](https://github.com/microsoft)
- **Source:** [microsoft/skills](https://github.com/microsoft/skills)
- **License:** MIT
- **Homepage:** https://microsoft.github.io/skills/

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-microsoft-skills-azure-identity-java
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/microsoft
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.