Claude Desktop connects to Microsoft Active Directory through the CData MCP Server for Microsoft Active Directory using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

When you launch Claude, it automatically detects MCP connections registered during setup. These connections are created and saved using the MCP Configuration Tool, which is installed with the MCP Server.

Each saved connection is recognized by Claude and can be referenced by name when asking questions.

Installing Claude

Claude Desktop is a standalone application that enables natural language querying across supported data sources using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

To connect to Microsoft Active Directory via MCP, you first need to install the Claude Desktop application.

You can download the latest version from the official Claude Download Page.

After installing Claude Desktop, you can configure your MCP connection using the CData MCP Driver for Microsoft Active Directory.

How Claude Uses the Server

When you ask Claude a question, it launches the corresponding MCP Server connection, reads the available tool descriptions provided by the connector, and generates a secure query in the background.

There is no need to write SQL or teach Claude how to query your data. Each tool is self-describing, and Claude consumes those descriptions to determine how to retrieve the right information.

Example Prompts

After setup, you can ask Claude natural-language questions like:

• "List all users who haven't logged in during the past 90 days."
• "Which user accounts are currently locked out?"
• "Show all users whose passwords are set to never expire."
• "Which accounts were created in the last 30 days?"
• "Who are the direct reports of John Doe?"
• "Which users are required to change their password at next login?"
• "List all accounts with no password expiration policy applied."
• "Which users have administrative privileges?"
• "Who last modified the user account for Michael Johnson?"
• "List all user accounts that have been disabled."

Claude securely executes the query using the MCP Server and responds using the live results from Microsoft Active Directory.