The GitHub MCP is a **remote MCP server**, which offers enhanced security compared to local stdio servers: - **OAuth Authentication**: Connections are authenticated through GitHub's secure OAuth flow - **Scoped Permissions**: Access is limited to the permissions you grant during authorization - **No Local Execution**: The server runs remotely, so no code executes on your machine - **Audit Trail**: All actions are logged in your GitHub account activity **Best practices**: Only grant the minimum permissions needed, regularly review connected applications in your GitHub settings, and revoke access for integrations you no longer use.

Getting started with the GitHub MCP is straightforward: 1. **Add to your AI client**: Configure your AI assistant (Claude, Cursor, etc.) to connect to the GitHub MCP endpoint 2. **Authenticate**: Complete the OAuth flow to authorize access to your GitHub account 3. **Start using**: Ask your AI assistant to perform GitHub operations like "create a new issue" or "show my open pull requests" The remote connection means no local installation is required—just authenticate and you're ready to go.