Secure AI Coding With Snyk: Now Supporting Model Context Protocol (MCP)
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Start secure, stay fast: bringing security into AI-powered coding
AI-assisted development is reshaping how software is written. It accelerates software creation and how fast it ships, helping developers generate code, automate routine tasks, and build faster than ever. But as productivity increases, so does the risk.
With new support for Anthropic’s emerging Model Context Protocol (MCP), Snyk now integrates directly into AI development tools like GitHub Copilot, Continue, Cursor, Qodo, Windsurf, and several other AI-native solutions that support MCP. Developers can work faster with confidence, knowing Snyk is embedded into their workflow, surfacing security insights in real time.
And this integration is just the beginning. As part of our AI-powered workflows, Snyk also offers Snyk Studio—an invite-only program where partners can build and test secure, AI-native integrations using tools like MCP. It’s how we’re helping the ecosystem move faster, embedding security into every step of the AI development process.
This initial release provides core Snyk scanning functionality, making the powerful features of the Snyk CLI accessible within the MCP ecosystem. We encourage you to explore its capabilities and provide feedback as we continue to evolve and expand our MCP support. Once the server is set up, you can start interacting with the Snyk MCP and initiate code scans.
What is MCP—and why does it matter?
AI tools are evolving rapidly—from autocompletion assistants to fully agentic copilots. Yet few share a common way to communicate securely with other tools in the software development lifecycle.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) changes that.
MCP is an open standard that enables tools like AI coding assistants, debuggers, or IDE extensions to communicate securely and contextually with other systems. Think of it as OpenAPI for AI workflows — a shared language for triggering actions, sharing context, and retrieving results in real time.
By supporting MCP, Snyk enables AI-powered tools to:
Discover and interact with Snyk without manual installation or configuration
Authenticate securely in the background
Trigger security scans for first-party code and open source dependencies
Return actionable results where developers are already working
This developer-first approach embeds security into the agentic AI workflow without adding friction or slowing innovation. Each step reinforces our goal of protecting the AI-powered workflow without introducing friction or sacrificing speed. Tested and validated alongside some of the industry’s leading AI-native coding solutions, such as Continue, Snyk’s support for MCP gives developers the security context they need, from the very first line of code.
“Continue has always been about giving developers choice and control with a flexible, open architecture that adapts to their unique workflows,
said Chad Metcalf at Continue.
“Our partnership with Snyk is a natural extension of that mission. By integrating Snyk’s security context through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), we’re enabling developers to generate code confidently and securely—without sacrificing speed or autonomy. This collaboration demonstrates how AI-powered development can be both productive and secure, paving the way for a future where innovation and governance go hand in hand."
Introducing Snyk MCP support in the CLI
For developers and teams building advanced integrations or working outside of traditional IDEs, Snyk supports MCP through the command-line interface (CLI) starting with the CLI version 1.1296.2. This is currently available in experimental mode.
Using the snyk mcp command, you can start a local MCP server that connects Snyk with compatible AI tools through either:
Standard I/O
$ snyk mcp -t stdio --experimentalServer-Sent Events (SSE)
$ snyk mcp -t sse --experimentalThis makes it possible to:
Trigger static and dependency security scans of the project code
Secures code and dependencies in Agentic AI and LLM-driven workflows
Authenticate, scan, and return results—all from within your custom dev environment
Our experimental MCP support offers flexible integration and implementation options as well. You can add the Snyk MCP server in several ways:
Configure within agentic IDE tooling: Add the server configuration directly within your Agentic IDE's configuration settings.
Environment variables or system configuration files: You can configure the Snyk MCP server either through system environment variables or dedicated configuration files on your operating system.
Transport types: Choose between STDIO and SSE transport types, depending on your needs.
You can find detailed instructions and examples in our experimental CLI documentation.
For developers building their own AI dev tools and for teams exploring agentic workflows, this CLI feature makes it easier than ever to integrate Snyk in a way that fits your stack.
Own AI security with Snyk
Explore how Snyk’s helps secure your development teams’ AI-generated code while giving security teams complete visibility and controls.
How Snyk is shaping secure AI development
As generative AI becomes foundational to modern development, the role of security must shift from afterthought to enabler. Embedding security into tools like Copilot or Windsurf—without requiring separate extensions or extra effort—is one way Snyk is making that happen.
MCP is a key part of this vision.
By supporting an open protocol, Snyk ensures its capabilities can be embedded across any editor, assistant, or platform. This flexibility allows developers to stay secure without changing their workflow.
Snyk’s experimental support for the Model Context Protocol is more than just an integration. It reflects a long-term vision for a future where security is seamlessly integrated into every step of AI-native development. With MCP, AI agents can generate code, update projects, and now trigger Snyk scans to identify and remediate vulnerabilities automatically, all within a unified process. We’re excited to embark on this journey with the community and empower developers to build secure and innovative applications in this exciting new era. When security becomes a natural part of the developer experience, it’s no longer a blocker. It’s a boost.
Snyk + MCP in action: real-world integrations with Copilot and Windsurf
AI-assisted development is taking many forms—from autocomplete suggestions to full agentic workflows—and developers are adopting a range of tools like GitHub Copilot, Continue, Cursor, Windsurf, and more.
With support for the MCP, Snyk now integrates into these tools directly, surfacing security insights where developers already work, without extra plugins or manual configuration.
In GitHub Copilot, Snyk scans both first-party and open source code in real time as developers write or accept suggestions. Security issues are flagged contextually within the IDE, accompanied by clear explanations and one-click remediation options. This ensures that code generated through Copilot is automatically vetted and secured, making generative coding inherently safer and more reliable.
In Windsurf, an advanced IDE designed for agentic, multi-tool workflows, Snyk provides a tight feedback loop: scanning code and dependencies behind the scenes and presenting results in plain language. Developers can prompt Windsurf to explain issues, walk through fixes, or patch vulnerabilities without switching context. This cohesive experience delivers secure-by-default development across even the most complex toolchains.
By integrating with tools like these through MCP, Snyk enables secure development that feels as fast and intuitive as AI-assisted coding itself.
What’s next: Build secure AI experiences with Snyk
Snyk’s support for MCP is just one part of our broader mission to enable secure, AI-native development. As more teams adopt agentic workflows and AI coding assistants, the need to embed security directly into those tools, without slowing developers down, is growing fast.
That’s where Snyk Studio comes in.
As part of the Snyk AI Trust Platform, Snyk Studio is a new experience devoted to preferred ecosystem partners who are helping us move the needle on developer-first security in the AI era. This program is designed to accelerate partner outcomes and bring Snyk’s AI security intelligence into your solutions.
Whether you're embedding our CLI via MCP, enabling agent-based workflows in your IDE, or building deep platform integrations, Snyk Studio helps you move faster — with security built in.
Try it today—and help shape the future
If you’re using Continue, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Devin AI, Qodo, Windsurf, or any other AI coding assistant that supports MCP, you can start using Snyk today!
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AI is moving fast. With Snyk + MCP, security is moving with it.
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