IRQL -- Incident Response Query Language
Compose IRQL function pipelines from selector, extractor, and enricher building blocks. IRQL wraps raw KQL security tables behind intent-revealing, composable functions so analysts (and LLMs) can express hunts without memorizing schemas, cluster locations, or join keys.
Activation Triggers
Use this skill when the user:
- Explicitly mentions IRQL,
Get_*,Extract_*, orEnrich_*functions - Says "use IRQL" or "write an IRQL query"
- Requests a composable hunting pipeline using known IRQL selectors
Do not activate for generic security queries (e.g. "find failed logins") unless the user explicitly asks for IRQL. Route those to azure-kusto instead.
Not a natural-language-to-IRQL converter. This skill composes IRQL function pipelines and may handle basic natural-language requests that map directly to known selectors and simple filters. For general NL-to-KQL or NL-to-IRQL conversion, use a dedicated query-generation skill (available separately).
IRQL Function Preflight
Before generating a pipeline, verify IRQL is available on the target database:
If no IRQL functions are found, inform the user that IRQL is not deployed on the target database and suggest using azure-kusto for raw KQL queries instead. IRQL functions are a prerequisite -- this skill does not deploy base IRQL selectors.
What IRQL Is
IRQL is a function-based dialect on top of KQL. It provides:
- Unified schema -- disparate security tables project into consistent column names regardless of the underlying data source
- Composability -- small functions chain via
| invoketo build complex hunts from simple steps - Portability -- the same IRQL pipeline works across different clusters/databases; only the
Get_*primitives need re-pointing
IRQL is not a separate language. It's KQL functions you invoke. Any valid KQL works alongside IRQL functions.
Deploying IRQL
IRQL functions are stored KQL functions (.create-or-alter function). They must already be deployed to the target database before this skill can generate pipelines.
Public example cluster (functions pre-deployed):
- Cluster:
https://kc7001.eastus.kusto.windows.net - Databases:
ValdyTimes,JoJosHospital
To port IRQL to a new cluster/database, create Get_* selectors that project your source tables into the unified schema (column names below), then deploy extractors and enrichers. The extractors and enrichers work unchanged as long as the input schema matches.
Function Catalog
1. Selectors -- Get_*
Return projected, schema-unified views of source tables. Use the minimal form by default; use _All when extra columns are needed.
2. Extractors -- Extract_*
Derive a new column from an existing one. Invoke after a selector.
3. Enrichers -- Enrich_*
Left-join helpers that attach context from a related table.
4. External Enrichment
Composition Rules
- Start with a Selector:
Get_Event_Authentication,Get_Email, etc. - Extract derived fields:
| invoke Extract_Email_Sender_Domain() - Filter to the signal:
| where Result == "Failed Login" - Enrich with context:
| invoke Enrich_Username_Employee() - Summarize / project the answer
Always pipe (|) between steps. Extractors and Enrichers use | invoke FunctionName().
Query Generation Guidelines
- Use the minimal selector unless extra columns are needed -> then
_All - Chain extractors before enrichers (extractors add columns enrichers may key on)
- Place
wherefilters as early as possible - Use
summarizefor aggregations,projectfor final column selection - End with
order by+taketo limit output
Examples
For additional prompts and worked examples, see references/EXAMPLES.md [blocked].
Brute-force detection
Phishing triage by recipient seniority
Post-exploitation pivot from an indicator
Suspicious outbound traffic enriched with identity
External IP authentication anomaly
MCP Tools Used
Opening Queries in Kusto Explorer (Windows Only)
Optional convenience feature. The default workflow is to output the KQL in chat and let the user copy it into Kusto Explorer or the VS Code Kusto extension manually. Auto-launch is opt-in only.
Always output the complete KQL query in the chat response with Step 1 (connect) and Step 2 (query) clearly labeled:
If the user asks to save or open in Kusto Explorer, follow the procedure in references/KUSTO_EXPLORER_LAUNCH.md [blocked]. Key rules:
- Use
ask_userto confirm before writing files or launching executables - Display file contents in chat so the user can review before opening
- Never use shell interpolation or here-strings — write files via
Set-Content/Add-Content - Never encode queries into browser URLs
- On macOS/Linux, save the
.kqlfile and suggest the VS Code Kusto extension or ADX Web Explorer - For graph visualization from IRQL data, see
azure-kusto-graphandazure-kusto-irql-graph



