microsoft / microsoft/simplechat

Workflow for MCP Server Integration

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enhancement
Dominant language
Python
Stars
152
Forks
116
Avg merge
7h 7m
Merged PRs (30d)
122

Description

Introduce a new feature in Simple Chat that provides an Admin Section for managing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. This feature will allow administrators to:
1. Whitelist specific MCP server FQDNs.
2. Review and approve user-submitted requests to add additional MCP FQDNs.
3. Monitor and control how agents (leveraging MCP) operate within the environment.

Additionally, create a new MCP Servers tab within Workspaces, giving visibility and management options for all whitelisted servers.

Background / Motivation

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is emerging as a powerful standard for integrating and orchestrating AI agents securely, especially within enterprise boundaries. By adopting MCP in Simple Chat, we aim to:
• Provide a structured and secure way for agents to ingest data and interact with external systems.
• Offer admins the ability to control, audit, and govern which servers (FQDNs) are allowed, enhancing security.
• Enable workflows for users to request access to specific MCP servers, subject to admin review/approval.

In parallel, we want to ensure Simple Chat remains at the forefront of agent-based AI integration, possibly leveraging technologies like:
• Azure AI Agent SDK (MCP-compliant agent development)
• Semantic Kernel (planning, memory, tool integration)
• AutoGen (comparable agent patterns but with less enterprise boundary focus)

Proposed Solution
1. Admin Section for Whitelisting
• UI Element: A dedicated page or modal within the Admin settings.
• Functionality:
• Add or remove MCP server FQDNs to/from a whitelist.
• View current whitelisted servers, along with metadata (date added, description, etc.).
2. User Request Workflow
• Submission: Non-admin users can submit a request to whitelist a new MCP server by providing the FQDN and a justification.
• Approval Flow: Administrators receive notifications to review and approve/deny these requests.
3. MCP Servers Tab
• Workspace Integration: A new tab that lists all active MCP servers.
• Status Visibility: Each MCP server entry can display status (active, pending approval, denied), usage statistics, or relevant configuration details.
4. Security & Governance
• Access Controls: Only users with elevated privileges can manage the whitelist.
• Logging & Auditing: Record admin actions, user submissions, and server communications for traceability.
• Integration Hooks: Provide extension points to tie into firewall policies or network-level restrictions for advanced enterprise scenarios.
5. Agent Integration
• SDK Alignment: Provide optional integration with the Azure AI Agent SDK, Semantic Kernel, or AutoGen.
• MCP Compliance: Ensure all agent interactions follow MCP conventions for memory, context, and tool usage.
• Future Enhancements: As the MCP spec evolves, keep the integration updated with new features like sub-agent orchestration or advanced context management.

Benefits
• Secure Integration: Gives administrators direct control over which external AI services are accessible.
• Scalable Management: Offers a standardized workflow for expansions or updates as MCP adoption grows.
• User Enablement: Empowers both technical and non-technical users to leverage AI agents while maintaining organizational security requirements.

Additional Considerations
• Testing & Validation: Ensure robust testing of the whitelist and request workflow, especially around edge cases (invalid FQDN, network timeouts, etc.).
• Documentation: Provide clear admin and user documentation on how to request, approve, or deny new MCP servers.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

No files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by mapping the existing admin, workspace, RBAC, notification, and audit paths before deciding how MCP server whitelisting and user requests fit. Done would require an admin approval workflow, a Workspaces MCP Servers tab, access controls, auditing, and documented validation without a defined implementation boundary.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
ai, authorization, backend, frontend, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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