An open standard that defines a common way to connect AI applications to external tools and data sources.
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, an open standard for connecting assistants and AI agents to other systems such as calendars, email, databases and work tools. Instead of every app building a custom integration for every service, MCP servers expose tools and data in a common format that any compatible client understands.
It matters because it makes connecting AI to your company's data and tools easier, without redoing the work for every platform. You can build an MCP server for an internal system so it becomes available to the assistants your team already uses. Practical tip: treat any MCP server like any integration with real permissions: do not install servers from untrusted sources, grant the least access possible and monitor what gets called, especially when tools change data or send messages.