Connecting MCP Servers
Connecting a server lets your agents work directly with systems you already run — your ticketing system, an inventory database, an internal API, a document store — without anyone writing custom integration code for it. The server exposes its own tools (querying a database, calling an internal API, retrieving documents, and so on), and once it's connected those tools become available to any agent you assign them to. This is done using Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that lets outside systems describe their own tools to Atanzo AI.
When you'd use this
Reach for an MCP server when the system you want your agents to reach is one your organization runs or controls, and it isn't already available as a built-in integration — an internal ticketing tool, a proprietary database, a partner API with its own authentication, an internal document repository.
When you wouldn't: if the service you're after is already listed in Tools & Integrations — LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Google Docs, web search, and the other built-in tools — use that instead. Those integrations are already set up and maintained for you; MCP is for everything else.
Who does this
Connecting an MCP server is an administrator task, done once per system you want to connect. Before you start, get the server's URL and any credentials it requires (an API key, a username and password, or OAuth access) from whoever runs that system — you'll need them to complete the setup.
Adding an MCP Server
- Go to Settings › MCP Servers (
/app/settings/mcp). This opens on the Create tab. - Enter the server's Server URL and a Name to identify it in Atanzo AI.
- Choose an Authentication Type — None, Basic Authentication, Bearer Token, API Key, Query Parameter, or OAuth 2.1 — and fill in the credentials it asks for.
- Click Save Server.
- Switch to the List tab to see every server you've connected, or to edit or delete one.
OAuth-Protected Servers
Some servers require OAuth authorization instead of a fixed key or password. Choose OAuth 2.1 (MCP Spec) as the Authentication Type and Atanzo AI checks the server for you; once it confirms OAuth is required, a Connect with OAuth button appears. Click it and follow the on-screen steps to authorize access. Once authorized, the connection is stored so you don't need to re-authorize on each use.
Testing Your MCP Connection
After saving a new server, Atanzo AI attempts to connect and retrieve the list of tools the server exposes. Open the server from the List tab to review its available tools before assigning any of them to agents. If the connection fails, check the server URL and any credentials you provided, then save again.
Using MCP Tools Inside an Agent
Once a server is connected, its tools appear in the agent editor's tool picker alongside Atanzo AI's built-in tools. Assign them to an agent the same way you would any other tool — select the tool from the picker and configure any required inputs or defaults.
Changes to tool assignments take effect the next time an agent session starts.