# Connect with Visual Studio

> Configure Visual Studio to query Aembit event logs through the MCP Server.

Connect Visual Studio’s MCP support to the Aembit MCP Server to query audit logs and events directly from your IDE.

## Prerequisites

* Visual Studio 2022 or later with MCP support
* Aembit API Token and MCP Service URL (see [Connect to the MCP Server](/ai-guide/mcp/mcp-server/connect/))

## Configure the MCP connection

> **Protect your API Token**
>
> Avoid committing API tokens to version control. Store tokens in environment variables or a secrets manager, and reference them in your configuration file.

1. Create the configuration file.

   In your project root (or user config directory), create a file named `.mcp.json`:

   ```json
   {
     "servers": {
       "aembit": {
         "url": "https://<tenantId>.mcp.useast2.aembit.io/mcp",
         "headers": {
           "Authorization": "Bearer <apiToken>"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

   Replace:

   * `<tenantId>` with your tenant identifier from the Aembit Admin UI
   * `<apiToken>` with your API Token

   Add `.mcp.json` to your `.gitignore` file to prevent committing it to version control.

2. (Optional) Scope to a resource set.

   Add the `X-Aembit-ResourceSet` header to query a specific resource set:

   ```json
   {
     "servers": {
       "aembit": {
         "url": "https://<tenantId>.mcp.useast2.aembit.io/mcp",
         "headers": {
           "Authorization": "Bearer <apiToken>",
           "X-Aembit-ResourceSet": "<resourceSetId>"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

3. Restart Visual Studio to load the configuration.

## Verify the connection

Visual Studio may prompt for permission when MCP tools are first invoked. Select **Allow** to enable Aembit queries.

Test the connection by asking about available tools or requesting recent audit logs.

## Usage notes

Keep these points in mind when using Visual Studio’s MCP support with the Aembit MCP Server.

* The MCP Server expects structured JSON commands, not free-form natural language.
* The MCP Server only supports read operations; you can’t modify Aembit data through this connection.
* Queries operate on your default resource set unless you specify `X-Aembit-ResourceSet`.

## Next steps

* See the [Prompt Library](/ai-guide/prompt-library/) for example prompts and best practices.
* If you have connection issues, see [Troubleshooting](/ai-guide/mcp/mcp-server/connect/#troubleshooting).

## Learn more

* [Visual Studio MCP documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/mcp-servers)