What is Model Context Protocol, or MCP?
Model Context Protocol is a standard interface for connecting AI applications with external capabilities and context. It can make integrations more reusable, but it is not the same thing as a model, an agent, or a complete authorization system. Permissions and trust still need explicit design.
What does the source say?
The MCP introduction describes a common connection model between AI applications and external systems. Treat protocol compatibility as an integration property, not as evidence that a particular server is safe or correctly scoped.
How can you apply this?
Choose one potential MCP server and list its tools, the data each tool can access, and whether it can change state. Map the intended user and agent to the smallest useful permission set. Test a request outside that scope and document how denial appears to the user and the agent.
What should you watch out for?
A tool description can contain misleading content, and a connector may expose more than your workflow needs. Review server provenance and test the actual access boundary.