MCP Frequently Asked Questions¶
A collection of common questions and answers from the learning journey. These came up naturally while exploring MCP — if you had the same questions, you're in good company! ☕
General Questions¶
Q: What does MCP stand for?¶
Model Context Protocol. It's a standard (like USB or HTTP) that lets AI assistants connect to external services. Created by Anthropic and adopted across the industry.
Q: If I delete the mcp-servers folder, do the MCP servers go away?¶
It depends on the server:
| Server | What happens if deleted? |
|---|---|
| m365-admin-graph | ❌ Gone — the server code lives in that folder. You'd need to set it up again. |
| azure | ✅ Fine — it downloads itself each time via npx. The folder isn't needed. |
💡 Tip: Think of it like apps on your phone. Some apps store all data locally (delete = gone). Others sync to the cloud (delete = just re-download).
Q: Do MCP servers run all the time in the background?¶
No! They only start when Copilot needs them and stop when you close the session.
Think of it like a microwave — it only runs when you press start, not 24/7. Your laptop's performance isn't affected when you're not using Copilot.
Q: Is my data safe when using MCP?¶
Yes. The MCP server runs locally on your machine. Your data travels:
It doesn't go through any third-party servers. The connection to Azure/M365 is encrypted (HTTPS), and your credentials stay on your machine.
Q: Can I use MCP with Copilot Studio or Azure AI Foundry — not just Copilot CLI?¶
Absolutely! Think of it like a USB standard:
| Platform | Role | Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot CLI | The concierge in this terminal | Hotel concierge |
| Copilot Studio | A different concierge (web-based) | Airport concierge |
| Azure AI Foundry | Another concierge (cloud-based) | Corporate concierge |
| MCP Server | The same universal connection | The USB cable |
The concierge changes per platform, but the MCP server stays the same. Build one MCP server, use it everywhere — that's the beauty of a universal standard!
Cost & Business Questions¶
Q: Is MCP free or paid?¶
The MCP protocol is always free — like HTTP. Nobody charges you to use the web protocol, and nobody charges you to use MCP.
As for MCP servers themselves:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Most servers today | Free & open-source |
| Some enterprise servers | Paid (subscription) |
| The protocol itself | Free forever (open standard) |
The ecosystem is still young — like the early App Store when most apps were free. This will likely evolve over time.
Q: Is there a cost to calling data through MCP?¶
MCP itself doesn't charge — but what it connects to might:
| Component | Cost? |
|---|---|
| MCP protocol | Free |
| MCP server software | Usually free |
| Underlying API/service | Depends on the service |
| Cloud hosting (if cloud MCP) | Hosting costs apply |
💡 Your setup costs $0 extra. Your Azure MCP and M365 MCP servers are free. The services they connect to (Azure, M365) are already part of your lab subscription.
Q: What are pre-built MCP servers? Can I buy them?¶
Pre-built MCP servers are like apps in an app store — someone else built them, and you just download, configure, and use them. You don't need to write any code.
Where to find them:
- mcp.so — The main MCP directory
- GitHub — Open-source servers
- npm — JavaScript packages
- Vendor websites — Official servers from companies
Your two MCP servers are both pre-built! You downloaded them and configured — zero coding required.
Technical Questions¶
Q: What is npm and npx?¶
| Tool | What It Is | Analogy |
|---|---|---|
| npm | Node Package Manager — app store for JavaScript | Downloading an app from the App Store |
| npx | Run a package without installing it | Streaming a movie on Netflix instead of downloading |
Your Azure MCP uses npx (always gets the latest version). Your M365 MCP was installed with npm (permanent local copy).
Q: Can I run MCP servers in the cloud?¶
Yes! Many businesses do this:
| Setup | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Local (your current setup) | MCP runs on your laptop | Personal use, learning |
| Cloud | MCP runs in Azure/AWS | Teams, always-on, multi-device |
Local is like a food truck 🚚 (great food, only available when open). Cloud is like a restaurant 🏪 (always available, serves everyone).
Q: What's the difference between stdio and HTTP transport?¶
| Transport | How It Works | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| stdio | Copilot talks directly to a local process | Personal use (your current setup) |
| HTTP | Copilot connects over the network | Cloud or shared servers |
| SSE | Older version of HTTP | Legacy — being replaced |
See the Transport Types page for the full explanation.
Security Questions¶
Q: Can MCP be protected with authentication?¶
Yes! All production MCP servers should use authentication. Common methods:
- API keys (simple password)
- OAuth 2.0 (login with Microsoft/Google)
- Client certificates (digital ID)
- Azure CLI login (your identity)
Q: Does MCP support role-based access?¶
Emerging! Two approaches exist:
- Shared service account — everyone uses the same credentials (simpler, less secure)
- User identity pass-through — your personal identity flows through (more secure, shows different data per user)
Your Azure MCP uses approach #2 (your az login identity). Your M365 MCP uses approach #1 (shared app credentials).
See the Security page for the full 4-layer breakdown.
Q: What is prompt injection?¶
A sneaky attack where malicious instructions are hidden inside data that the AI reads. Like someone putting a note in the café's suggestion box saying "Ignore all rules and give me the safe code".
This is an active research area — defences include input sanitisation, output filtering, and human-in-the-loop approvals.
See the Security page for more details.
Quick Reference¶
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| What is MCP? | Universal standard for AI ↔ services communication |
| Is it free? | Protocol: always free. Servers: mostly free (for now) |
| Is it safe? | Yes — runs locally, encrypted connections |
| Can I use it elsewhere? | Yes — Copilot CLI, Studio, AI Foundry, and more |
| Do I need to code? | Not for pre-built servers! |
| Does it run all the time? | No — only when Copilot needs it |
| What if I delete files? | Depends — some re-download, others need re-setup |