Practical software guides
Model Context Protocol (MCP) standardises how an AI application can connect to resources and tools through a server. It does not make a tool trustworthy, grant user authority or replace the underlying business API.
The official architecture documentation describes hosts, clients and servers. For a business, begin with the task: read an approved catalogue, draft from an assigned case or propose an update. Decide which resource and action scopes are actually required.
| Task | Likely first option |
|---|---|
| Sync an approved stock quantity | Existing API/webhook integration |
| Import a monthly report | Validated batch/ETL |
| Let an AI client find approved resources/tools | MCP interface with role-scoped access |
| Approve a payment | Existing authorised financial workflow; no implicit model permission |
Test denied access, stale sources, duplicate calls and revocation. A prompt instruction cannot replace enforced authorisation. The field-mapping guide gives a worked integration example, and the AI permission matrix sets action boundaries. This route has been recovered and revised; no deployed MCP customer outcome is claimed.