AI agents connect to company systems through the MCP protocol. That makes every MCP server a new gateway into your business, and attackers already know it.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is quickly becoming the standard through which AI agents access enterprise applications, data and processes. Put simply: APIs are built for developers, MCP is built for AI agents. In practice, MCP sits on top of existing APIs: AI agent → MCP server → application / API → business system. It helps companies adopt AI faster and automate without dozens of custom integrations.
A new risk that traditional protection can’t see
MCP servers deliberately advertise the tools they offer so that agents can find them. That hands attackers a ready-made map of what can be abused. Their own AI agents enumerate tools, abuse the protocol and authentication, and flood servers with requests, which in practice amounts to a DDoS attack on MCP.
Traditional security solutions inspect web traffic and APIs, but they don’t understand MCP logic. A company can block common attacks and still remain exposed to attacks carried out through perfectly legitimate MCP calls.
4 steps to secure MCP servers
- Gain visibility into which MCP servers are running, what they expose and who is talking to them.
- Deploy protection that understands MCP, not just a traditional WAF.
- Monitor agent behavior and defend against resource exhaustion and L7 DDoS attacks.
- Establish governance: regularly review what is exposed and whether policies are being followed.
The solution: Radware MCP Server Protection
Radware MCP Server Protection delivers visibility into your MCP infrastructure, protection against MCP-specific attacks and continuous security posture control. Unlike many solutions, it doesn’t protect AI applications from third-party MCP servers. It protects the MCP server itself, meaning what your company exposes to the world. It is available as a cloud service and as an extension for on-premises Alteon and DefensePro platforms.
The winners of the agentic AI era won’t be the companies that simply adopt MCP, but those that adopt it securely. Want to know how well your MCP servers are protected? Contact us.
Source: based on the article MCP Is Becoming the Foundation of Agentic AI. Are Your MCP Servers Protected? (Dror Zelber, Radware, October 14, 2026).
