ExpressVPN becomes industry first to let AI agents control VPN connections through MCP server

ExpressVPN Introduces MCP Server for AI-Driven VPN Control

ExpressVPN has become the industry first major VPN provider to launch a Model Context Protocol server, marking a significant shift in how AI agents interact with network security tools. Announced on March 5, 2026, this beta feature allows AI tools control VPN connections directly through structured commands, removing the need for developers to manually adjust settings during their workflow 1

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The MCP server acts as a local bridge between AI coding assistants and ExpressVPN's desktop apps on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Compatible AI development tools including Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex can now check whether a VPN connection is active, switch server locations, change protocols, and run diagnostics without interrupting development workflows 1

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. This integration is available for both individual users and ExpressVPN for Teams customers.

How Model Context Protocol Bridges AI and Network Security

Model Context Protocol is an open-source standard introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 that enables AI tools to interact with external software through structured commands. ExpressVPN's implementation creates a strictly local bridge that allows developers to issue commands in natural language, such as "switch to a US server" or "check if my connection is secure," which AI agents then execute automatically 2

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Shay Peretz, COO of ExpressVPN, explained the rationale behind this move: "Developers are increasingly relying on AI agents to automate complex tasks, yet their network environment has remained manual. Our MCP server brings VPN control into those workflows, enabling secure testing, troubleshooting, and region switching without interrupting their workflow" 1

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. Peretz added that the company sees MCP becoming a foundational standard for how AI systems interact with external tools.

Security Safeguards and Privacy Protections

The MCP server operates under ExpressVPN's strict no-logs policy, with the company confirming that "activity logs, connection logs, and destination data are not collected or stored" 1

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. The server runs locally on the user's device rather than through a remote service, ensuring that sensitive data remains on-premises.

Access is limited to a fixed command allowlist, meaning AI agents can only perform specific approved actions such as reading VPN status or adjusting connection settings. The integration cannot access account credentials or session information, preventing AI tools from gaining unrestricted access to sensitive user data 2

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. For security reasons, the MCP server is disabled by default and must be manually enabled in the ExpressVPN desktop app settings 1

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Practical Applications for Developers and QA Testers

This beta feature addresses a common pain point for developers and QA testers who frequently need to confirm VPN connections before running scripts, switch regions to test geo-sensitive APIs, or troubleshoot connectivity issues during development 1

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. Previously, these tasks required developers to leave their coding environment and manually toggle settings in the VPN app, creating friction in their workflow.

The ability to automate network configuration through AI agents removes the need to context-switch between a code editor and the VPN client 2

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. Developers can now verify secure connections, test features across multiple regions, and diagnose network issues through AI-assisted workflows, all without leaving their development environment.

To try the beta, developers need to install the latest ExpressVPN desktop app, enable the MCP server from settings, and connect it to a compatible AI tool. ExpressVPN has published technical documentation on its website to help developers experiment with AI-assisted workflows involving network configuration 1

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. As AI continues to reshape development workflows, this integration signals a broader trend toward automating network security tasks that have traditionally required manual intervention.