Connecting Copilot Studio Agents to External Systems using MCP

AI agents are only as powerful as the systems they can interact with. By leveraging the open Model Context Protocol (MCP), you can seamlessly connect your Copilot Studio agents to external data sources and tools without writing complex custom integration code. This text-based course guides you through the process of extending your agents' capabilities using MCP. You will gain the skills to securely expose external APIs, databases, and services to your AI assistants, enabling them to take action and retrieve real-time information. What you'll learn: Understand the core concepts of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how it standardizes LLM tool use; Compare MCP with traditional integration methods like custom connectors and REST APIs to choose the right architecture; Configure secure authentication for MCP servers using API keys and OAuth 2.0; Navigate the onboarding wizard in Copilot Studio to register external MCP servers; Manage tool selection and define precise schemas so your agent calls external functions reliably; Apply troubleshooting best practices to debug connection errors and secure data flow. The course begins with foundational definitions of MCP and agentic workflows, then moves step-by-step through configuration, security setup, and practical schema management. This course is designed for beginners looking to build smarter AI assistants, with no prior experience in advanced protocol development required. Start reading today to unlock the full potential of your AI agents with standardized external integrations.