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Knowledge Bases

Knowledge Bases are the aggregation layer in the Grounded Knowledge architecture. A Knowledge Base groups one or more Knowledge Sources together, allowing AI agents to search across multiple indexes in a single query. Azure handles multi-source fan-out internally during retrieval.

Architecture​

The relationship between components follows this hierarchy:

Knowledge Base
  └── Knowledge Source 1 → Search Index 1 (e.g., Email Archive)
  └── Knowledge Source 2 → Search Index 2 (e.g., SharePoint Documents)
  └── Knowledge Source 3 → Search Index 3 (e.g., Google Drive Documents)

Each Knowledge Source is backed by its own Azure AI Search Index. The Knowledge Base ties them together so that a single query fans out across all linked sources and returns consolidated results.

When to Use Multi-Source Knowledge Bases​

Multi-source Knowledge Bases are useful when you want agents to search across different types of content in one query. For example:

  • Combine email archives and SharePoint documents so agents can find both email discussions and formal policies about a topic
  • Combine corporate knowledge and activity logs so agents can reference both documented procedures and past execution history
  • Combine Google Drive and SharePoint sources when your organization uses both platforms

Managing Sources​

Viewing Linked Sources​

From the index details page (Build > Knowledge > click an index), the Overview tab shows all Knowledge Sources currently linked to the index's Knowledge Base.

Adding a Source​

To add a Knowledge Source to an existing Knowledge Base:

  1. Open the index details page
  2. In the Knowledge Sources section, click Add Source
  3. Select from available Knowledge Sources that are not already linked
  4. The source is immediately added and its content becomes searchable through this Knowledge Base

Removing a Source​

To remove a Knowledge Source from a Knowledge Base:

  1. Open the index details page
  2. In the Knowledge Sources section, find the source to remove
  3. Click the remove action
  4. Confirm the removal
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Removing a source from a Knowledge Base does not delete the underlying Search Index or its data. The source and its data remain intact and can be re-added later or used in other Knowledge Bases.

Testing Multi-Source Queries​

After configuring a multi-source Knowledge Base, use the Test Query feature on the index details page to verify that results are returned from all linked sources. The test results include reference information showing which source each result came from.

Best Practices​

  1. Group related content - Combine sources that agents are likely to need together (e.g., HR policies from SharePoint with HR-related email threads)
  2. Monitor query performance - Multi-source queries may take slightly longer than single-source queries due to fan-out
  3. Keep sources focused - Each Knowledge Source should contain a distinct type of content to avoid redundant results
  4. Test after changes - After adding or removing sources, run test queries to verify the results meet expectations