A Game-Changer for DevOps: Leveraging AI in Air-Gapped and Zero Trust Environments

DevOps practitioners working in Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) or air-gapped environments often face unique challenges. These highly secure setups restrict internet access to protect sensitive data, making it difficult to integrate modern tools and automation. But what if there were a way to bridge the gap between your cloud infrastructure and air-gapped systems while maintaining security? The Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Claude for Desktop, are a powerful combination that's set to transform how DevOps engineers operate in these constrained environments.

With MCP, you can integrate AI-driven automation directly into your air-gapped workflows. Claude for Desktop acts as your user-friendly interface, enabling natural language interaction with AI tools running locally on your PC. Imagine being able to automate scripts, manage deployments, and even perform drift detection; all while staying within the confines of a secure environment.

Let's dive into why this approach is a game changer and how you can get started with a simple example.

Why MCP and Claude for Desktop Are Perfect for Zero Trust and Air-Gapped Use Cases

Simplified Automation: Claude for Desktop allows you to run scripts, including bash scripts, directly from your PC. Whether you're deploying applications or performing repetitive tasks, this setup eliminates the need for constant manual intervention.

Enhanced Security: Data flowing to external Large Language Models (LLMs) can be a concern. By using Local LLMs, you can encapsulate sensitive data and still benefit from natural language processing and semantic orchestration. This ensures that no sensitive information leaves your secure environment.

Bridging Gaps Between Systems: Claude's ability to communicate with both cloud and air-gapped environments makes it a versatile tool for hybrid setups. This is particularly beneficial in ZTNA environments where strict security policies might otherwise limit operational flexibility.

Customizability: With MCP tools, you can build deterministic workflows and gradually enhance them by adding memory and sequential learning capabilities. This enables your system to grow smarter over time, adapting to your specific needs.

A Simple Example: Echoing Messages with MCP and Claude

To demonstrate how easy it is to get started, let's set up a simple MCP tool that echoes a message. While basic, this example highlights the potential of MCP and Claude for automating workflows in air-gapped environments.

Step 1: Install Required Tools

• Download Claude for Desktop: Claude for Desktop

• Install Node.js: Node.js Official Website, as MCP tools require Node.js to run. Python is also supported, but not covered in this example.

Step 2: Create an MCP Tool

Use the Agentico MCP Create Tool to generate a new project:

npx @agentico/mcp-create-tool my-agentico-tool -t Echo -d "Echo a message from MCP server to the client"
cd my-agentico-tool
npm install && npm run build

This command creates a TypeScript project with all the necessary files, including an example configuration file for Claude. It's designed to simplify the onboarding process for DevOps practitioners who may not be familiar with TypeScript. ⭐ Star the MCP Create Tool on GitHub if you find it helpful!

Step 3: Update Claude’s Configuration

Ensure Claude's configuration file is updated automatically, the mcp-create-tool adds an entry with the path to your MCP tool.

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Here's an example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my-agentico-tool": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/project/my-agentico-tool/build/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Please refer to the Claude user guide for detailed instructions if you need anything.

Step 4: Test the Setup

Open Claude for Desktop and type the following message in the chat:

echo hello

Claude will respond with:

hello

This interaction demonstrates how the MCP tool processes a message and returns a response. You can review the code in src/index.ts and customize it to handle more complex tasks.

You can test with different messages and observe how Claude interacts with your MCP tool to execute the desired actions.

I know, it's a simple example, but it showcases the power of MCP and Claude for Desktop in automating workflows within air-gapped environments. Your imagination is the only limit to what you can achieve with these tools.

Future Possibilities

The potential for MCP and Claude for Desktop extends far beyond simple tasks. Imagine using these tools to:

• Automate application deployments: Seamlessly manage builds and rollouts without internet access.

• Perform drift detection: Compare the desired and actual states of your systems to identify configuration issues.

• Integrate with Local LLMs: Enhance security while leveraging AI capabilities for smarter workflows.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post where we'll cover how to use Claude for Desktop to automate deployments and detect drift in air-gapped environments. The possibilities are endless, and this is just the beginning.

Conclusion

The combination of MCP and Claude for Desktop offers a groundbreaking way to tackle the challenges of ZTNA and air-gapped environments. By enabling natural language interaction with local AI tools, this approach simplifies workflows, enhances security, and empowers DevOps practitioners to achieve more with less effort.

Ready to revolutionize your DevOps workflows? Start exploring MCP with Agentico and Claude for Desktop today. And remember: your imagination is the only limit.

Go Rebels! ✊️