Terraform Azure Verified Modules: What, Why and How to Use Them

If you’ve spent any time building things on Azure with Terraform, you’ll know the pain of hunting down decent modules. Some are solid, some are a bit sketchy, and some… well, let’s just say I wouldn’t trust them with a dev environment, never mind production. Microsoft’s Azure Verified Modules (AVM) are here to bring a bit of order to the chaos.

So, what’s the deal? Here’s what you actually need to know. No vendor fluff, just the good bits, the gotchas and how to get started.

Think of AVM as Microsoft’s “official” Terraform modules for Azure. They’re built and maintained by Microsoft, with a bit of help from the community, and they’re designed to make your deployments less painful and more predictable.

• Microsoft-backed, not just another random GitHub repo. These are the real deal.
• Best practice by default, with security and compliance baked in from the start.
• Modular, so you can mix and match or build up more complex stuff as you need it.
• Easy to get, all in the Terraform Registry, so you’re not digging through forums for the latest version.

Let’s be honest. Most teams end up with a Frankenstein’s monster of Terraform modules. Different naming, random tagging and the odd “temporary” hack that’s still there two years later. AVM aims to fix this by giving you:

• One place for modules that follow Microsoft’s latest guidance.
• Quicker onboarding, so new starters can actually make sense of the codebase.
• Less drift, with updates and bug fixes coming straight from Microsoft.
• Easier audits, with clear policies and docs so compliance isn’t a nightmare.

If you’re tired of endless debates over naming conventions or fixing the same security issues over and over, Azure Verified Modules are worth a look.

The AVM library is growing fast. As of July 2025, you’ll find modules for:

• Virtual networks
• Subnets
• Storage accounts
• Key vaults
• Private endpoints
• Managed identities
• Network security groups
• App Service plans
• And more on the way

Microsoft and the community are focusing on what people actually use, so expect more to land soon.

It’s dead simple. Add a module block, just like you would with anything else. Here’s a quick example for a virtual network:

This module supports the following:

• Creating a new virtual network
• Creating a new subnet
• Creating a new virtual network peering
• Associating DNS servers with a virtual network
• Associating a DDOS protection plan with a virtual network
• Associating a network security group with a subnet
• Associating a route table with a subnet
• Associating a service endpoint with a subnet
• Associating a virtual network gateway with a subnet
• Assigning delegations to subnets

Azure/avm-res-network-virtualnetwork/azurerm | Terraform Registry

Quick tips:

• Always pin your module versions. No one likes surprises on a Friday afternoon.
• Read the docs. There’s a lot you can tweak and some defaults are opinionated.
• Treat AVM modules as building blocks, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

• Every module is reviewed and tested by Microsoft.
• Naming, tagging and structure are consistent, so you don’t have to re-learn everything for each resource.
• Security and compliance are built in.
• Proper docs and examples, so you’re not guessing what a variable does.

Even with Azure Verified Modules, you’ll want to keep your wits about you:

• Defaults are opinionated. Microsoft’s best practice might not match your legacy setup. Always check before rolling out at scale.
• Breaking changes can happen. Test upgrades somewhere safe before you hit production.
• Some modules have a lot of options. Start simple and build up as you go.
• Not all “Azure” modules are AVM. Double-check the source before you trust it.

AVM is part of Azure’s shift from massive, copy-paste templates to smaller, reusable modules. It means:

• Faster builds, as you can assemble environments from tested blocks.
• Easier maintenance, as you upgrade modules instead of thousands of lines of custom code.
• Better teamwork, with everyone using the same patterns.

Still writing huge Terraform configs for every project? AVM is your nudge to break it down.

If you’ve used the old CAF Enterprise Scale modules, here’s how AVM stacks up:

Table showing differences between CAF and AVM

Azure Verified Modules are all about flexibility and composability. Use what you need and swap out modules as your setup changes.

• Pin your versions, always.
• Actually read the docs. They’re decent and will save you time.
• Automate your testing. Pipelines are your friend.
• Parameterise for reuse. Variables and locals make your code portable.
• Keep modules up to date. New versions land regularly.

• Terraform Registry: Search “Azure Verified Module” or “AVM”. Browse Modules | Search: | Terraform Registry
• GitHub: All open source, so raise issues or submit PRs if you spot something. Azure Verified Modules | AVM
• Microsoft Docs: Full guidance, release notes and examples. Azure Verified Modules | Microsoft Learn
• Community: Azure IaC calls, forums and Discord. There’s always someone who’s already hit your problem.

Azure Verified Modules are a big step forward for anyone using Terraform on Azure. They bring consistency, security and speed to your deployments without locking you into a rigid framework. If you’re not already using them, now’s the time to give them a go.