Azure PAT (Personal Access Token) is a security token that can be used to authenticate and authorize access to various Azure services and resources. PATs are typically used for non-interactive scenarios, such as automation, scripting, or when integrating Azure services with external tools or applications. Here are the key points to know about Azure PATs:

Key Points about Azure Personal Access Tokens (PATs):

1. Purpose: PATs are used to authenticate and authorize access to Azure resources and services. They are often used in scenarios where interactive user authentication is not practical or necessary.

2. Scenarios: Common scenarios for using PATs include:

   • Automation of Azure tasks using scripts or tools.
   • Integration of Azure services with external applications or third-party tools.
   • Granting access to specific Azure DevOps services, repositories, or pipelines.

3. Security: PATs are a form of authentication and should be treated as sensitive credentials. They provide access to the resources and services associated with the token, so it’s essential to keep them secure.

4. Scope and Permissions: When creating a PAT, you can specify the scope and permissions it has. This means you can control what the token can access and perform actions on.

5. Expiration: PATs have an expiration date, and you can set the validity period when creating them. It’s a security best practice to use short expiration periods and renew tokens as needed.

6. Revocation: If a PAT is compromised or no longer needed, it should be revoked or deleted to prevent unauthorized access.

7. Authentication: PATs are typically used in HTTP requests by including them as an “Authorization” header with the “Bearer” token type.

8. Azure DevOps: Azure DevOps also uses PATs for authentication and authorization. Developers often generate PATs to access Azure DevOps services programmatically, like triggering builds or accessing repositories.

How to Create an Azure Personal Access Token:

Here are general steps for creating an Azure PAT:

1. Sign in to Azure: Use an Azure account with sufficient permissions to create PATs.

2. Navigate to the Azure Portal: Access the Azure Portal at portal.azure.com.

3. Create a PAT:

   • In the portal, go to the Azure DevOps organization or Azure service where you want to create the token.
   • Look for the section related to PATs or security.
   • Create a new PAT by specifying its name, scope, and permissions.
   • Set the expiration date for the token.

4. Use the PAT: Once you’ve created the PAT, it will be displayed to you. Copy and securely store it, as you won’t be able to access it again.

5. Authentication: In your scripts or applications, use the PAT in the “Authorization” header of your HTTP requests with the “Bearer” token type.

Remember to follow security best practices when handling and storing PATs to prevent unauthorized access to your Azure resources. Rotate or revoke PATs when they are no longer needed or in case of security concerns.