Hands-On IT – MCP Servers 101: How They Work and Why They Matter, E23

In this episode of Hands-On IT, host Landon Miles breaks down what MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers are, why they exist, and how they’re transforming real-world IT automation.

Before MCP, AI assistants struggled to interact with the tools, systems, and data IT teams rely on. With the rise of open-source MCP servers, models now have a standardized, permission-aware way to reach into infrastructure, pull context, and execute workflows safely.

Landon also sits down with Henry Smith, who helped build the Automox MCP server prototype. Together, they explore:

• What MCP servers actually do and the problems they solve
• Why the open-source model matters for IT teams
• How MCP provides a clean, consistent interface for tools and data
• Real-world applications like report generation, patch policy creation, and audit log analysis
• How Automox built its own MCP server using Fast MCP
• The future of AI-driven IT operations

If you're an IT admin, security engineer, or automation enthusiast, this episode provides a clear explanation and a practical look at MCP servers in action.

Links:
Automox MCP Blog: https://www.automox.com/blog/automox-mcp
Automox MCP Git Repo: https://github.com/AutomoxCommunity/automox-mcp