What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard, introduced by Anthropic in November 2024, for connecting AI assistants to outside data and tools. A system exposes its data and actions through an MCP server, and any compatible AI application can use it. It replaces one-off integrations with a common way to connect.
Which AI assistants support MCP?
MCP support has spread quickly across AI products, including Claude, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot Studio, as well as many developer tools. Exact capabilities depend on the product, plan, and admin settings, and they change often, so we confirm what your licenses allow before designing a rollout.
Is it safe to connect our business systems to AI?
It can be, with the right controls. Risks include over-broad permissions, untrusted third-party connectors, and prompt injection, where hidden instructions in content try to make the AI misuse a tool. We address these with authenticated connections, least-privilege read and write scopes, human approval for actions, vetted servers, and audit logging.
Does our data leave our environment when AI uses it?
When an AI assistant reads data through a connector, the relevant content is sent to that AI service to generate a response. That is why we connect only to AI services you have approved, limit what each connector can see, and keep sensitive systems out of scope unless you decide to include them.
Can the AI change records or only read them?
Both are possible, and you decide. We start with read-only access, then add specific write actions, such as creating a ticket or updating a CRM field, with human approval for anything high impact.
Do we need Microsoft Copilot or Claude to use MCP?
You need an AI assistant or agent platform that supports MCP. Many businesses start with the tool they already license. Because MCP is an open standard, the same governed connectors can usually serve more than one assistant.