GitHub MCP Allowlist - Azure DevOps Local MCP Server

Question

GitHub MCP Allowlist - Azure DevOps Local MCP Server

Gentle Nest 5

Using GitHub Copilot Enterprise, I want to set up an MCP Registry Allowlist.

The instructions include a way to use the Azure API Center.

We want to use Azure DevOps MCP server, but it is only available/supported as a local MCP server.

So how can I put a local MCP server into the Azure API Center?

Pravallika KV 16,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-05T18:31:32.8633333+00:00
Hi @Gentle Nest,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Follow below steps to integrate a local Azure DevOps MCP server with the Azure API Center for GitHub Copilot Enterprise.

MCP Server Setup:

Since you're using Azure DevOps with a local MCP server, ensure that your Azure DevOps MCP server is correctly configured. The Azure DevOps MCP Server is a self-hosted solution that allows GitHub Copilot to access Azure DevOps data securely.

Exposing MCP Server in Azure API Management:

Expose your existing local MCP server through Azure API Management (APIM). This allows other services, like GitHub Copilot, to securely access the protocols and APIs your MCP server provides.

You'll want to define the APIs that your MCP server exposes within the APIM. This will involve specifying the details of your local MCP server along with the relevant endpoints for streaming HTTP(/mcp) and Server-Sent Events (/sse).

References:

Overview of MCP servers in Azure API Management

Connect and govern existing MCP server in Azure API Management

Inventory and Discover MCP Servers - Azure API Center

Testing and Monitoring:

Make sure you verify that your settings are correct:

Test the endpoints to ensure you’re getting the expected responses.

Monitor traffic through APIM to ensure that everything is operating smoothly.

If you encounter issues during this integration, check out below references:

Troubleshooting MCP related issues in APIM

Remote MCP using Azure API Management - Code Samples

Hope this helps. If you have any specific issues during the setup or further questions, feel free to ask.
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-05T21:15:22.5266667+00:00

Hi Pravallika. What I am really looking for is a way to permit a local package of the Azure DevOps MCP server with API Center. I am not looking for a way to open up or proxy a local MCP server to the internet. Can API Center do this?
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-05T21:19:02.3266667+00:00

Specifically, looking at https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/docs#/schemas/ServerJSON, API Center can fill out the remotes block, but I really want to use the packages block for the Azure DevOps MCP server, so that folks can run it locally and it can be allowed by GitHub Copilot.
Alessandro Surace 36 Reputation points

2025-12-08T16:36:32.2433333+00:00

Hi Gentle Nest, looking for the same config. Did you have any success?
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T11:23:28.6133333+00:00

Negative. We think the API Center will work someday, but can't find a way to make it work today.

1 answer

Your answer

Pravallika KV 16,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-05T18:31:32.8633333+00:00

Hi @Gentle Nest,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Follow below steps to integrate a local Azure DevOps MCP server with the Azure API Center for GitHub Copilot Enterprise.

MCP Server Setup:

Since you're using Azure DevOps with a local MCP server, ensure that your Azure DevOps MCP server is correctly configured. The Azure DevOps MCP Server is a self-hosted solution that allows GitHub Copilot to access Azure DevOps data securely.

Exposing MCP Server in Azure API Management:

Expose your existing local MCP server through Azure API Management (APIM). This allows other services, like GitHub Copilot, to securely access the protocols and APIs your MCP server provides.

You'll want to define the APIs that your MCP server exposes within the APIM. This will involve specifying the details of your local MCP server along with the relevant endpoints for streaming HTTP(/mcp) and Server-Sent Events (/sse).

References:

Overview of MCP servers in Azure API Management

Connect and govern existing MCP server in Azure API Management

Inventory and Discover MCP Servers - Azure API Center

Testing and Monitoring:

Make sure you verify that your settings are correct:

Test the endpoints to ensure you’re getting the expected responses.

Monitor traffic through APIM to ensure that everything is operating smoothly.

If you encounter issues during this integration, check out below references:

Troubleshooting MCP related issues in APIM

Remote MCP using Azure API Management - Code Samples

Hope this helps. If you have any specific issues during the setup or further questions, feel free to ask.
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-05T21:15:22.5266667+00:00

Hi Pravallika. What I am really looking for is a way to permit a local package of the Azure DevOps MCP server with API Center. I am not looking for a way to open up or proxy a local MCP server to the internet. Can API Center do this?
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-05T21:19:02.3266667+00:00

Specifically, looking at https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/docs#/schemas/ServerJSON, API Center can fill out the remotes block, but I really want to use the packages block for the Azure DevOps MCP server, so that folks can run it locally and it can be allowed by GitHub Copilot.
Alessandro Surace 36 Reputation points

2025-12-08T16:36:32.2433333+00:00

Hi Gentle Nest, looking for the same config. Did you have any success?
Gentle Nest 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T11:23:28.6133333+00:00

Negative. We think the API Center will work someday, but can't find a way to make it work today.

Answer 1

Hi @Gentle Nest

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A

You cannot add Azure Devops MCP Server directly in Api Center, In order to add your local API server in API Center, you'll have to create an api-definition for local API Server and register it in API Center. Refer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-center/build-register-apis-vscode-extension and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-center/design-api-github-copilot-azure

Sample definition openapi.yaml:

openapi: 3.0.1

info:

title: Azure DevOps Work Items API (Curated)

version: 1.0.0

description: Curated subset of ADO REST endpoints used by our apps

servers:

- url: https://dev.azure.com/{organization}

variables:

organization:

default: my-org

description: Azure DevOps organization

paths:

/{project}/_apis/wit/workitems:

post:

summary: Create work item

parameters:

- in: path

name: project

required: true

schema: { type: string }

requestBody:

required: true

content:

application/json-patch+json:

schema:

type: array

items: { type: object }

responses:

'200':

description: Work item created

security:

- patAuth: []

components:

securitySchemes:

patAuth:

type: http

scheme: bearer

bearerFormat: PAT

You can create api-definition like above for your local server and add it in the API center.

Alternatively, You can directly use Azure Devops MCP Server with Github co-pilot by following the steps below:

Select Add MCP Server in your VS code command palette:

In the Add MCP Server > Select Azure Devops > install Azure Devops > Write your Organization name and repeat your organization name > Your Devops server will be running locally.

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GitHub MCP Allowlist - Azure DevOps Local MCP Server

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