// GLOSSARY -- MCP & TOOL INFRASTRUCTURE
What is an MCP Virtual Server?
A gateway-configured logical endpoint that exposes a curated subset of tools from one or more upstream MCP servers, scoped by team, use case, or access policy.
WHY IT MATTERS
In enterprise deployments, different teams need access to different tools from the same MCP server. A finance team should see payment tools but not admin tools. A support team should see read tools but not destructive ones.
Virtual servers solve this by presenting a filtered view of available tools, determined by policy. The upstream server doesn't change — the proxy decides what each client can see and use.
HOW POLICYLAYER USES THIS
PolicyLayer's per-agent scoping effectively creates virtual servers — each agent identity sees only the tools its policy allows, from a single upstream connection.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this the same as multiple MCP servers?
No. It's one upstream server with multiple policy-defined views. This avoids duplicating infrastructure while enabling fine-grained access control.