diff --git a/tests_e2e/tests/lib/network_security_rule.py b/tests_e2e/tests/lib/network_security_rule.py
index d2f67d19cb..6fe8ee296e 100644
--- a/tests_e2e/tests/lib/network_security_rule.py
+++ b/tests_e2e/tests/lib/network_security_rule.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def add_security_rule(self, security_rule: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         self._get_network_security_group()["properties"]["securityRules"].append(security_rule)
 
     def _get_network_security_group(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        resources: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = self._template["resources"]
+        resources: Any = self._template["resources"]
         #
         # If the NSG already exists, just return it
         #
@@ -76,8 +76,14 @@ def _get_network_security_group(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
                 "securityRules": []
             }}
         }}""")
-        nsg_reference = "network_security_groups"
-        resources[nsg_reference] = network_security_group
+
+        # resources is a dictionary in LISA's ARM template, but a list in the template for scale sets
+        if isinstance(resources, dict):
+            nsg_reference = "network_security_groups"
+            resources[nsg_reference] = network_security_group
+        else:
+            nsg_reference = f"[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups', '{self._NETWORK_SECURITY_GROUP}')]"
+            resources.append(network_security_group)
 
         #
         # Add a dependency on the NSG to the virtual network
diff --git a/tests_e2e/tests/lib/update_arm_template.py b/tests_e2e/tests/lib/update_arm_template.py
index 1cd4e1d72f..ef3dfd1d92 100644
--- a/tests_e2e/tests/lib/update_arm_template.py
+++ b/tests_e2e/tests/lib/update_arm_template.py
@@ -32,25 +32,29 @@ def update(self, template: Dict[str, Any], is_lisa_template: bool) -> None:
         """
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_resource(resources: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]], type_name: str) -> Any:
+    def get_resource(resources: Any, type_name: str) -> Any:
         """
-        Returns the first resource of the specified type in the given 'resources' list.
+        Returns the first resource of the specified type in the given 'resources' list/dict.
 
         Raises KeyError if no resource of the specified type is found.
         """
-        for item in resources.values():
+        if isinstance(resources, dict):
+            resources = resources.values()
+        for item in resources:
             if item["type"] == type_name:
                 return item
         raise KeyError(f"Cannot find a resource of type {type_name} in the ARM template")
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_resource_by_name(resources: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]], resource_name: str, type_name: str) -> Any:
+    def get_resource_by_name(resources: Any, resource_name: str, type_name: str) -> Any:
         """
-        Returns the first resource of the specified type and name in the given 'resources' list.
+        Returns the first resource of the specified type and name in the given 'resources' list/dict.
 
         Raises KeyError if no resource of the specified type and name is found.
         """
-        for item in resources.values():
+        if isinstance(resources, dict):
+            resources = resources.values()
+        for item in resources:
             if item["type"] == type_name and item["name"] == resource_name:
                 return item
         raise KeyError(f"Cannot find a resource {resource_name} of type {type_name} in the ARM template")