--- sourceDocument: Yokohama Enable AI sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/intelligent-experiences Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama Enable AI ft:clusterId : - platai bundleId : - platai workflow : - Platform --- # Explore # Exploring MCP Server Console {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Yokohama Updated August 8, 2025 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Exploring MCP Server Console The Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server Console in ServiceNow enables AI applications to securely access and perform actions on a ServiceNow instance by standardizing communication between large language models (LLMs) and external systems. Through MCP servers, AI clients like Microsoft Copilot or Claude can request data or automate workflows by interacting with exposed tools on the instance. Show full answer Show less MCP Server Console allows AI administrators to create and configure MCP servers and the tools these servers expose. Tools define available functionalities such as data retrieval or actions on the instance, often leveraging existing capabilities like Now Assist skills. Clients connect to servers using OAuth 2.0 authentication, ensuring secure access. ## Key Features * **Server and Tool Creation:** AI administrators can create multiple MCP servers tailored for different use cases (e.g., HR, IT), each exposing specific tools and data fields to clients. * **OAuth Security:** OAuth inbound integrations are set up per client to securely manage access to MCP servers. * **Preconfigured Quickstart Server:** Includes ready-to-use tools for summarizing and looking up incident and case records, facilitating quick learning and testing. * **Cross-Instance Access:** Allows AI applications on one ServiceNow instance to access MCP server tools on another instance, enhancing interoperability. * **Integration with AI Gateway:** Enables monitoring and metrics tracking of MCP server access and tool usage through AI Control Tower. ## Practical Workflow for AI Administrators AI administrators start by identifying functionalities to expose via MCP servers, either by using the Quickstart Server or creating customized servers and tools. They configure OAuth inbound integrations for each AI client to ensure secure communication. Clients are then set up with server and authentication details. Once connected, clients can request available tools and use them to query data or perform actions on the instance, improving automation and employee experience. ## Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * **Standardized AI Integration:** MCP servers provide a consistent way to connect any AI application or client to ServiceNow functionality. * **Controlled Exposure:** Administrators maintain granular control over which tools and data fields are accessible to external AI clients. * **Secure Access:** OAuth-based authentication ensures that AI clients access only authorized data and actions. * **Rapid Onboarding:** The Quickstart Server accelerates initial setup and experimentation with MCP capabilities. ## Next Steps ServiceNow customers can deepen their MCP Server Console knowledge by exploring configuration guides, learning how to set up MCP clients, and reviewing reference materials for advanced customization and usage scenarios. Learn about how you can use Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to allow AI applications to access data and perform actions on a ServiceNow instance. ## MCP Server Console overview {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-overview} The Model Context Protocol defines a standard method of communication between large language models (LLMs) and external systems, such as a ServiceNow instance. AI applications connect to an external system from an MCP client, such as an AI agent, using an MCP server. The server tells the client which external resources it can access and how to access them. Then, from an MCP client, users can request information from the server and automate functionality using the available tools and data that the server returns. For general information about the Model Context Protocol and MCP terminology, see the [Model Context Protocol documentation](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/learn/server-concepts) on the modelcontextprotocol.io website. With MCP Server Console, you can create MCP servers on an instance and configure the tools that they expose or use a preconfigured Quickstart Server. Tools define which functionality and data a server exposes to clients and the actions that can be performed on an instance by clients. You can create tools based on existing capabilities, such as Now Assist skills. Then any AI application, such as Microsoft Copilot or Claude, can call a server from a client using OAuth 2.0 authentication and get a list of available tools. With these tools, employees using MCP clients can prompt the server for information from the instance or to perform an action on the instance, such as to summarize a list of recently closed incidents or cases. You can also use the ServiceNow Model Context Protocol Client to let an AI application on one instance access tools from an MCP server on another instance. ## MCP Server Console users {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-users} {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_epw_sph_ggc__entry__2} | User | Description | |-|-| | AI administrator | AI administrators can create MCP servers and configure which tools they expose to MCP clients. They also create OAuth inbound integrations on the instance for each client and configure clients with the server and authentication details. | [ ] {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_epw_sph_ggc} ## MCP Server Console workflow {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-workflow} The following infographic shows the workflow for AI administrators to get started managing MCP servers with MCP Server Console. Figure 1. Managing MCP servers with MCP Server Console 1. As an AI administrator, you identify which functionality on an instance to access from an external MCP client and employee experience. 2. You can use the preconfigured Quickstart Server or create an MCP server with the appropriate tools to use the desired functionality.You can create one or more servers that expose different tools for different use cases, such as for HR or IT workflows, or for different clients. 3. If needed, you can create additional tools from Now Assist skills and configure which fields are exposed to clients and then add the tools to servers. 4. You create OAuth inbound integrations for each client to secure access to servers on an instance. 5. You configure clients to connect to a server using the server and OAuth inbound integration details.Then the client calls the server, which validates the OAuth token and responds with the list of tools available for use with the server. 6. Employees use clients, such as AI agents, to prompt the server for data from the instance or to perform an action on the instance. {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-workflow-ol} Note: With AI Gateway in AI Control Tower, AI administrators can monitor MCP server access and view metrics for servers and their tools. For more information, see . ## MCP Server Console benefits {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-benefits} {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_hpw_sph_ggc__entry__3} | Benefit | Feature | Users | |-|-|-| | Integrate with any AI application and MCP client using a standard protocol. | [Create a Model Context Protocol server](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/zr1PTkdcR0ClTxX143Ek0A "Create a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and configure which tools it exposes to MCP clients.") | AI administrator | | Control which tools and fields are exposed to MCP clients. | [Create a tool for a Model Context Protocol server](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/EJzC~EfASY97z8ICu5_PAA "Create a tool from a Now Assist skill to expose it to Model Context Protocol (MCP) clients from an MCP server.") | AI administrator | | Securely access functionality from a ServiceNow instance in any external employee experience. | [Configure an MCP client to connect to an MCP server](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/znFgA8jtoUBUx5e_tj~Lrg#configure-client-connect-server "Configure a Model Context Protocol (MCP) client to connect to an MCP server and prompt the server to perform a task.") | AI administrator | [ ] {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_hpw_sph_ggc} ## Quickstart Server in MCP Server Console {#exploring-mcp-server-console__section_uhc_pw5_fhc} MCP Server Console includes a preconfigured Quickstart Server to help you get started learning about MCP servers and connecting MCP clients to a ServiceNow instance. The Quickstart Server includes tools for looking up and summarizing incident and case records. {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_bhx_l5h_ggc__entry__2} | Name | Description | |-|-| | Case summarization | Get a summary of details in a case record generated by Now Assist. | | Incident summarization | Get a summary of details in an incident record generated by Now Assist. | | Look up Case Records | Look up case records to enable summarizing them with the Case Summarization tool. | | Look up Incident Records | Look up incident records to enable summarizing them with Incident summarization tool. | [Table 1. Quickstart Server tools] {#exploring-mcp-server-console__table_bhx_l5h_ggc} ## What to explore next {#exploring-mcp-server-console__cf-exploring-parent-links} To learn more about configuring and using MCP Server Console, see: * [Configuring MCP Server Console](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/77Hbc4tluhiNVmF3Sl05Kg "Create a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and configure the tools and inputs it exposes to MCP clients.") * [Configure an MCP client to connect to an MCP server](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/znFgA8jtoUBUx5e_tj~Lrg#configure-client-connect-server "Configure a Model Context Protocol (MCP) client to connect to an MCP server and prompt the server to perform a task.") * [MCP Server Console reference](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/B17SJitOEE4ST6XvrIuA7w "Reference topics include information about MCP Server Console roles, tables, and more.") {#exploring-mcp-server-console__ul_ipw_sph_ggc} **Related reference** * [Model Context Protocol Client](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ubEXmaz~9Au56Xi0lW3PjA "The ServiceNow Model Context Protocol Client (MCP) enables users of the ServiceNow AI Agent Studio to access the Model COntext Protocol tools that are hosted externally and published using an MCP Server.")