/ Enterprise MCP Gateway

The Credential Broker

Agents and MCP servers should never become new places where secrets spread.

This guide shows how MCP Gateway keeps credentials controlled โ€” modes, binding references, secret-store integration, rotation, revocation, and audit โ€” while governed calls still reach real backends.

12 chapters ยท ~4 min read

01

From Secret Sprawl To Brokered Path

Loose keys should move out of server code and logs into a brokered path.

From Secret Sprawl To Brokered Path

Why it mattersAgents and MCP servers should not become new places where secrets spread.

02

Binding Card Catalog

A binding card names actor, policy, environment, and reference without showing the secret.

Binding Card Catalog

Why it mattersReviewers need explainable access without exposing sensitive values.

03

Service Account Credential

Service-account access can be injected upstream while the agent never sees the credential.

Service Account Credential

Why it mattersMany first pilots need service access with centralized control.

04

User Delegated OAuth

Delegated access keeps the action tied to user authority and OAuth scope.

User Delegated OAuth

Why it mattersSome tools should act with user authority, not only service identity.

05

Agent-Scoped Credential

Agent-scoped credentials can be limited to owned tools and revoked cleanly.

Agent Scoped Credential

Why it mattersThe credential should match the agent, owner team, and tool risk.

06

Workload Identity Mapping

Workload identity maps to a subject and selects the right binding.

Workload Identity Mapping

Why it mattersCloud and cluster identities need first-class treatment in enterprise deployments.

07

Secret Store Integration

The gateway should work from secret references, not plaintext storage.

Secret Store Integration

Why it mattersExisting vaults and cloud secret stores remain the source of truth.

08

Environment-Specific Bindings

Dev, staging, and production use separate bindings.

Environment Specific Bindings

Why it mattersPreventing cross-environment use is a basic production control.

09

Rotate Without Server Code Change

Rotation changes the secret reference while the server stays untouched.

Rotate Without Server Code Change

Why it mattersCredential hygiene improves when rotation does not require app rewrites.

10

Revoke Binding Cleanly

Revocation blocks new calls, terminates affected sessions where needed, and emits audit evidence.

Revoke Binding Cleanly

Why it mattersA broker is only credible if access can be stopped cleanly.

11

Audit Without Secret Values

Audit keeps credential mode, binding reference, request ID, and policy version without secret values.

Audit Without Secret Values

Why it mattersSecurity needs traceability without creating a new sensitive log.

12

Server Owners Stay Focused

Tool calls get the resolved mode, private backend route, and audit receipt while domain owners keep logic.

Server Owners Stay Focused

Why it mattersCredential governance should reduce platform burden, not steal domain ownership.

Credentials

Broker credentials for a real workflow

We are looking for teams whose security and platform teams want brokered credentials for real MCP workflows.

Start with one workflow and one credential mode. Connect the existing secret store, bind access to policy and environment, run a real tool call, rotate or revoke the binding, and inspect the audit trail together.

The goal is to make agent access useful without making agents secret carriers.

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Broker credentials for a real workflow