Microsoft added Model Context Protocol (MCP) support to Visual Studio so the IDE can act as an MCP client that connects AI agents to tools and data provided by MCP servers. MCP is an open client-server protocol defining message formats for tool discovery, invocation, and response handling, enabling agentic applications to access external capabilities. The integration aims to boost developer productivity and integration flexibility by serving as a secure universal adapter that removes one-off integrations and allows internal tools to be accessed while keeping sensitive data inside company boundaries. MCP servers also create new security risks as potential vectors for system hijacking or cyberattacks.
"MCP acts like a secure 'universal adapter' for connecting AI agents (like Copilot) to external tools, databases, code search engines, or deployment pipelines, so there are no more one-off integrations for every service," Walter said.
"MCP helps connect to internal company tools securely, meaning that enterprise users can blend public AI advancements with proprietary processes while keeping sensitive data inside company boundaries," Walter added.
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