---
title: 'Panguard MCP Server'
description: 'Model Context Protocol server exposing 12 Panguard security tools to AI assistants like Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf.'
icon: 'plug'
---

Panguard MCP implements the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) standard, allowing AI assistants to interact with your security infrastructure through natural language. Ask your AI to scan for vulnerabilities, check guard status, block malicious IPs, or generate compliance reports -- all through conversation.

## Quick Start

Add Panguard to your AI assistant's MCP configuration:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
    Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):

    ```json
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "panguard": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@panguard-ai/panguard-mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Cursor">
    Add to your Cursor MCP settings (Settings > MCP Servers):

    ```json
    {
      "panguard": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@panguard-ai/panguard-mcp"]
      }
    }
    ```

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Windsurf">
    Add to your Windsurf MCP configuration:

    ```json
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "panguard": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@panguard-ai/panguard-mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
    ```

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    Add to your Claude Code MCP settings:

    ```json
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "panguard": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@panguard-ai/panguard-mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
    ```

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What You Can Do

Once configured, interact with Panguard through natural language:

| Example Request                            | MCP Tool Used              |
| ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------- |
| "Scan this machine for vulnerabilities"    | `panguard_scan`            |
| "Check my source code for security issues" | `panguard_scan_code`       |
| "Start real-time protection"               | `panguard_guard_start`     |
| "Stop the Guard engine"                    | `panguard_guard_stop`      |
| "What is the current security status?"     | `panguard_status`          |
| "Show me recent alerts"                    | `panguard_alerts`          |
| "Block IP 203.0.113.50"                    | `panguard_block_ip`        |
| "Generate a PDF security report"           | `panguard_generate_report` |
| "Initialize Panguard configuration"        | `panguard_init`            |
| "Audit this skill directory for security"  | `panguard_audit_skill`     |
| "Deploy full protection on this machine"   | `panguard_deploy`          |

## 12 Available Tools

| Tool                       | Category | Description                                      |
| -------------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `panguard_scan`            | Scan     | Run a security health check scan (quick or full) |
| `panguard_scan_code`       | Scan     | SAST scan of source code directory               |
| `panguard_guard_start`     | Guard    | Start the real-time monitoring daemon            |
| `panguard_guard_stop`      | Guard    | Stop the monitoring daemon                       |
| `panguard_status`          | System   | Get status of all Panguard services              |
| `panguard_alerts`          | Guard    | Get recent security alerts with severity filter  |
| `panguard_block_ip`        | Guard    | Manually block an IP address                     |
| `panguard_generate_report` | Report   | Generate a PDF compliance report                 |
| `panguard_init`            | System   | Initialize Panguard configuration                |
| `panguard_audit_skill`     | Scan     | Audit an OpenClaw/AgentSkills directory          |
| `panguard_deploy`          | System   | One-click deploy: scan + guard + report          |

<Card title="Tools Reference" icon="wrench" href="/products/mcp/tools-reference">
  Full parameter reference and examples for all 12 MCP tools.
</Card>

## Architecture

```
AI Assistant (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
         |
    MCP Protocol (stdio transport)
         |
   Panguard MCP Server (@panguard-ai/panguard-mcp)
         |
   ┌─────┼─────┬──────┬───────┐
   Scan  Guard  Report  System
```

The MCP server runs as a local process, communicating with your AI assistant via stdio. All security operations execute locally on your machine -- no data is sent to external servers through the MCP channel.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18+ (for `npx` execution)
- Panguard CLI installed: `npm install -g @panguard-ai/panguard` or use `npx panguard`
