Google Introduces Managed MCP Servers to Streamline AI Agent Integration with Cloud Services

Google launches managed MCP servers that let AI agents simply plug into its tools
TechCrunch

Key Points

  • Google Cloud launches managed MCP servers for AI agents.
  • Initial services include Maps, BigQuery, Compute Engine, and Kubernetes Engine.
  • Developers can connect agents by simply pasting a URL.
  • Security features include IAM, Model Armor firewall, and audit logging.
  • Apigee API management extends existing governance to AI agents.
  • Servers are in public preview and offered at no extra cost to existing enterprise customers.
  • General availability is planned for the near future.
  • Google will add MCP support for storage, databases, monitoring and security services in the coming months.

Google Cloud has launched managed Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that let AI agents directly access Google services such as Maps, BigQuery, Compute Engine and Kubernetes Engine. The servers, offered in public preview at no extra cost to existing enterprise customers, simplify connector setup by allowing developers to paste a URL and instantly grant agents tool access. Built with Google Cloud IAM, Model Armor and audit logging, the offering adds security and governance controls. Google plans to expand MCP support to additional storage, database, monitoring and security services in the coming months, positioning the platform as a broader enterprise solution for AI‑driven workflows.

Simplifying AI Agent Connectivity

AI agents have long promised to handle tasks ranging from travel planning to business analytics, yet integrating them with external tools and data has required fragile, custom‑built connectors. Google’s new managed Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers aim to eliminate that complexity. By providing fully managed endpoints for core Google services, developers can simply paste a URL to grant an agent access, removing weeks of setup and reducing governance headaches.

Initial Service Offerings

At launch, Google is making MCP servers available for Maps, BigQuery, Compute Engine and Kubernetes Engine. In practice, an analytics assistant could query BigQuery directly, while an operations agent might interact with infrastructure services without manual API wiring. For Maps, the server supplies up‑to‑date location data, grounding agents in real‑world information rather than static model knowledge.

Security and Governance Built In

The managed servers are protected by Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM), ensuring that agents can only perform authorized actions. Additional safeguards include Model Armor, a firewall designed for agentic workloads that defends against prompt injection and data exfiltration, and comprehensive audit logging for observability. These controls bring the same security and governance framework that enterprises use for human‑built applications to AI agents.

Integration with Existing API Management

Google leverages its Apigee API management product to translate standard APIs into MCP servers. This means that existing API keys, quotas and traffic monitoring can be applied to AI agents, extending familiar security guardrails to the new workflow.

Future Expansion and Industry Impact

The MCP servers are currently in public preview and offered at no extra cost to enterprise customers already paying for Google services. Google expects to move to general availability in the near future and plans to roll out additional MCP support for storage, databases, logging, monitoring and security services over the next few months. By standardizing the connection between AI agents and cloud tools, Google positions itself as a key infrastructure provider for the emerging AI‑agent ecosystem.

#Google#Google Cloud#AI agents#Model Context Protocol#MCP#Maps#BigQuery#Compute Engine#Kubernetes Engine#Apigee#Model Armor#Enterprise AI#Cloud services
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