What is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
March 6, 2026 · 2 min read
What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol that standardizes how AI agents communicate with external tools and services. Think of it as a universal adapter between AI models and the software systems they need to interact with.
Before MCP, every AI agent integration was custom-built. Connecting an AI assistant to Salesforce required different code than connecting it to Slack, which required different code than connecting it to a database. MCP changes this by providing a single, standardized interface.
How MCP Works
An MCP server exposes a set of capabilities — specific actions that an AI agent can perform. For example, a Salesforce MCP server might expose capabilities like:
query_accounts— Search and retrieve Salesforce accountsupdate_contacts— Modify contact recordscreate_leads— Create new sales leads
When an AI agent needs to perform one of these actions, it sends a structured request to the MCP server, which executes the operation and returns the result.
Why MCP Matters
For developers: MCP eliminates the need to build custom integrations for every AI agent. Build one MCP server for your service, and any MCP-compatible agent can use it.
For enterprises: MCP creates a standardized layer where tool access can be governed, monitored, and audited. Organizations can control exactly which tools their AI agents can reach.
For the ecosystem: MCP enables a marketplace of interoperable AI tools. Developers can publish MCP servers, and anyone can discover and use them.
Getting Started
The fastest way to explore MCP is to browse the VaultPlane Registry, where you can discover MCP servers across dozens of categories — from databases and CRM systems to cloud infrastructure and messaging platforms.
Each server listing includes installation instructions, capability documentation, and compatibility information for popular platforms like Claude Desktop, Cursor, and LangChain.