Presented by Microsoft Events, this Ignite 2025 session details AI agent deployment on Azure with MCP, featuring demos on GitHub Copilot modernization and Azure AI Foundry for secure, scalable operations.

AI Agents and MCP in Production: Azure App Platform at Microsoft Ignite

Speakers: Devanshi Joshi, Nir Mashkowski, Jordan Selig, Jun Yoshida

Session Overview

Explore how AI agents have become integral to production environments, leveraging the Azure App Platform for secure and scalable deployment. The session covers:

  • Agent lifecycle management
  • Integration of MCP (Managed Control Plane) tools
  • Governance, observability, and policy enforcement for reliability

Key Topics & Demonstrations

Fundamentals: Apps, Agents, and MCP Tools

  • Definitions and distinctions of apps, agents, and control plane solutions.
  • Introduction to agent-based architectures using Azure and MCP.

App Modernization with GitHub Copilot

  • Live demonstration: Upgrading an application to .NET 10 using GitHub Copilot.
  • Workflow improvements for developers incorporating Copilot into modernization efforts.

AI Agent Operations & Tools

  • Agents performing background operations: content moderation and Open API tool integration.
  • Use of built-in observability and access controls for secure operations.

Authentication & Security Enhancements

  • Easy Auth support for MCP servers to strengthen authentication practices.
  • Demo: Securely connecting to MCP servers from VS Code with authentication and policy controls.

Developing AI Maintenance Agents

  • Use of Azure AI Foundry and Agent Framework for creating maintenance agents.
  • Demo: AI-guided maintenance applied to industrial scenarios (e.g., air compressors).

Governance and Performance at Scale

  • Strategies for managing agents, enforcing enterprise policies, and ensuring robust security.
  • Policy enforcement and lifecycle best practices.

Next Steps

  • Summary: AI modernization journey, emphasis on security, and scalable governance.
  • Lab invitation: Hands-on opportunities to deepen understanding of AI agent deployment and operations.

Further Resources