Azure MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Azure MCP Server

before you install - you'll need

Set AZURE_TENANT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET before connecting.

Claude Code

claude mcp add microsoft-mcp-servers-azure-mcp-server -- npx -y @azure/mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "microsoft-mcp-servers-azure-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@azure/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions · Claude Desktop extension (.mcpb bundle)

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package @azure/mcp - the @azure scope differs from the repo owner (microsoft); confirm it's the project's official package

registry vendor namespace com.microsoft - domain-verified with the official MCP registry

03 · What Azure MCP Server can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.42 · 2026-09-09

![Help shape Azure MCP Server's Managed Remote Hosting - take our 1-minute survey]( · _Expanded cost optimization and resilience capabilities_ · Adds Azure Advisor cost-optimization tools, Azure Data Manager for Energy…

Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.41 · 2026-09-03

![Help shape Azure MCP Server's Managed Remote Hosting - take our 1-minute survey]( · _Expanded Azure IoT and resilience capabilities_ · Includes improvements to Azure IoT Hub and resilience tooling, along with…

Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.40 · 2026-09-02

![Help shape Azure MCP Server's Managed Remote Hosting - take our 1-minute survey]( · _Expanded IoT Hub, Resilience, and Azure Backup capabilities_ · New Azure IoT Hub device/query tools, Resilience Management drill…

04 · Who maintains Azure MCP Server

Azure MCP Server is maintained by microsoft. We track 9 MCP servers from microsoft - 9 actively maintained, 44,340 combined GitHub stars, oldest repo from Mar 2025. Full record: all servers from microsoft.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/microsoft/mcp
website: https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/tree/main/servers/Azure.Mcp.Server
category: cloud infrastructure - ranked #11 of 945 actively-maintained cloud infrastructure servers as of 2026-09-18.
release cadence: 7 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-09-09)
registry: com.microsoft/azure (active, first published 2025-11-16 · 42 versions)
packages: nuget:Azure.Mcp · npm:@azure/mcp · pypi:msmcp-azure · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-win-x64.mcpb · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-win-arm64.mcpb · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-linux-x64.mcpb · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-linux-arm64.mcpb · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-osx-x64.mcpb · mcpb:https://github.com/microsoft/mcp/releases/download/Azure.Mcp.Server-3.0.0-beta.45/Azure.Mcp.Server-osx-arm64.mcpb

06 · Azure MCP Server FAQ

What is Azure MCP Server?

All Azure MCP tools in a single server. The Azure MCP Server implements the MCP specification to create a seamless connection between AI agents and Azure services. Azure MCP Server can be used alone or with the GitHub Copilot for Azure extension in VS Code. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.

Is Azure MCP Server still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-18, its last commit was 2026-09-17 and it shipped 7 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Azure MCP Server?

Run `npx -y @azure/mcp`. The README documents 3 environment variables (AZURE_TENANT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET) to set first. Set AZURE_TENANT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Azure MCP Server run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Azure MCP Server

Alternatives to Azure MCP Server

Maintained cloud infrastructure servers if Azure MCP Server isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Azure MCP Server doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

head to head · Kubernetes MCP Server vs Azure MCP Server · Ts Core vs Azure MCP Server · Azure MCP Server vs Coolify

More cloud infrastructure MCP servers · Kubeview · Moira · Komodo MCP Server · Package Version Check MCP · Trust Oracle