Protect your professional information with comprehensive security measures for your MCP server.

Authentication Security

Robust authentication is the first line of defense for your MCP server. Implement these best practices to ensure only authorized clients can access your professional profile.

Authentication Methods

API Key Authentication

Moderate Security

API keys provide a simple way to authenticate clients. Each client receives a unique key that must be included in requests.

Implementation:

  • Generate long, random API keys (min. 32 characters)
  • Regularly rotate keys (every 30-90 days)
  • Implement rate limiting per key

OAuth Authentication

High Security

OAuth 2.0 provides a secure way for clients to request access to your MCP server without sharing credentials.

Implementation:

  • Use authorization code flow with PKCE
  • Set short token expiration times
  • Implement refresh token rotation
  • Configure appropriate scopes for access

Client Certificate Authentication

High Security

For maximum security, require clients to present a valid certificate that you've issued and verified.

Implementation:

  • Generate and distribute client certificates
  • Configure TLS mutual authentication
  • Maintain certificate revocation lists
  • Set appropriate certificate expiration

API Key Management

If using API keys, follow these best practices for management:

API Key Management API Key Management UI (Placeholder)

Active API Keys:

Claude Desktop
Created: May 10, 2025 • Expires: Aug 10, 2025
[Rotate] [Revoke]

Windsurf
Created: Apr 22, 2025 • Expires: Jul 22, 2025
[Rotate] [Revoke]

Zed Editor
Created: May 5, 2025 • Expires: Aug 5, 2025
[Rotate] [Revoke]

[Generate New API Key]

⚠️ Security Tip
Never share API keys in public repositories, client-side code, or insecure communications. Use environment variables or secure vaults to store keys.

Data Protection

Protect the professional information shared through your MCP server with appropriate data security measures.

Transport Layer Security

Always use TLS (HTTPS) to encrypt data in transit:

Minimum Requirements

  • TLS 1.2 or higher
  • Strong cipher suites only
  • Valid, trusted certificates
  • HSTS implementation

Recommended Configuration

  • TLS 1.3 (preferred)
  • Certificate pinning for known clients
  • Automatic certificate renewal
  • Regular security scans

Configuration Status: 🟢 HTTPS is properly configured with TLS 1.3

Sensitive Information Handling

Carefully manage sensitive personal and professional information:

Information Classification

| Information Type | Sensitivity | Handling Recommendation | | ------------------------ | ----------- | ------------------------------- | | Public Work Experience | Low | Safe to share with all clients | | Skills & Competencies | Low | Safe to share with all clients | | Education History | Low | Safe to share with all clients | | Current Compensation | High | Do not include in profile | | Contact Information | Medium | Share only with trusted clients | | Specific Client Projects | Medium | Anonymize or obtain permission |

❌ Warning
Never include highly sensitive information such as social security numbers, financial details, health information, or specific compensation details in your professional profile.

Data Minimization

Only share information necessary for the intended purpose:

✅ Enable Resource-Specific Access
Allow clients to request only specific resources they need

✅ Client-Specific Resource Permissions
Configure which resources each client can access

✅ Resource Information Filtering
Remove unnecessary fields from resources

Server Hardening

Implement security measures to protect your MCP server from attacks and unauthorized access.

Rate Limiting

Prevent abuse by implementing rate limits:

Rate Limit Configuration

Request Limit per Client: [60 requests/minute ▼]
Rate Limit Behavior: [Throttle (429 response) ▼]

Advanced Rate Limiting

  • ✅ Enable per-endpoint rate limits
  • ✅ Enable IP-based rate limits
  • ✅ Enable graduated response (increasing timeouts)

Input Validation

Protect your server from malicious input:

  • Request Schema Validation - Enabled
    Validate all request data against defined schemas

  • Parameter Sanitization - Enabled
    Clean and sanitize all input parameters

  • SQL Injection Protection - Enabled
    Prevent SQL injection attacks

  • XSS Protection - Enabled
    Prevent cross-site scripting attacks

Security Headers

Implement HTTP security headers to protect against common attacks:

| Header | Value | Status | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------- | | Strict-Transport-Security | max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains | Implemented | | Content-Security-Policy | default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' | Implemented | | X-Content-Type-Options | nosniff | Implemented | | X-Frame-Options | DENY | Implemented | | X-XSS-Protection | 1; mode=block | Implemented | | Referrer-Policy | strict-origin-when-cross-origin | Implemented |

Access Control and Monitoring

Implement robust access controls and monitor your MCP server for suspicious activity.

Client Access Control

Control which clients can access your MCP server:

Client Access Control Client Access Control UI (Placeholder)

Access Control Settings

✅ Require Client Approval
All new clients require manual approval before access is granted

✅ Client Whitelisting
Only pre-approved clients can connect to your MCP server

⚪ IP Whitelisting
Only allow connections from specific IP addresses

Security Monitoring

Monitor your MCP server for suspicious activity:

✅ Access Logging
Log all client access to your MCP server

✅ Anomaly Detection
Detect and alert on unusual access patterns

✅ Notifications
Receive alerts for suspicious activity

Notification Channels

  • ✅ Email
  • ⬜ SMS
  • ⬜ Webhook

Regular Security Audits

Conduct regular security audits of your MCP server:

Automated Checks

  • Weekly automated security scans
  • Header and configuration validation
  • Dependency vulnerability checks
  • Certificate expiration monitoring

Manual Review

  • Quarterly access control review
  • Access log review and analysis
  • Client permission verification
  • Security configuration updates

🟢 Last security audit completed: May 1, 2025
All checks passed - No issues found

Security Checklist and Next Steps

MCP Server Security Checklist

  • ✅ Enable HTTPS with TLS 1.3
  • ✅ Implement strong authentication
  • ✅ Configure security headers
  • ✅ Implement rate limiting
  • ✅ Set up client access controls
  • ✅ Enable comprehensive logging
  • ✅ Configure security monitoring and alerts
  • ✅ Review and classify sensitive information
  • ✅ Implement input validation
  • ✅ Schedule regular security audits

Next Steps

After implementing these security best practices, consider exploring:

Security Dashboard