Overview
MCP permissions define what an AI assistant can do for a user or workspace.
In social publishing, permissions should distinguish viewing analytics, creating drafts, scheduling, approving, publishing, and deleting content.
Why This Matters
MCP matters because it turns AI from a writing surface into an execution surface. Instead of stopping at generation, AI tools can trigger real product actions through a structured layer that respects permissions, workflows, and business logic.
Preflight Checklist
- Define the workflow you want the AI tool to trigger.
- Map each action to an existing Postly capability.
- Keep permissions and workspace routing inside Postly.
- Default to draft-first behavior when actions could be risky.
- Log and validate every AI-initiated action.
Step-by-Step Playbook
- Identify the user.
- Load workspace roles.
- Check channel access.
- Check action-level permission.
- Return an allowed or denied response.
Implementation Tips
- Use least privilege.
- Separate draft, schedule, approve, publish, and delete permissions.
- Make permission errors clear to the AI user.
Example MCP Action Pattern
Reusable flow for “MCP Permissions”
- Intent: user asks the AI to perform a real workflow.
- Tool call: AI selects a defined MCP action.
- Validation: auth, workspace, and role checks run first.
- Execution: Postly backend performs the requested action.
- Result: structured output returns to the AI client.
Design Checklist
- Map tools directly to product primitives.
- Use one shared backend action layer across channels.
- Support both MCP and API packaging where needed.
- Keep AI-triggered actions reversible where possible.
- Bias toward draft-first execution for content workflows.
Postly Workflow
In Postly, MCP should expose the product’s existing capabilities rather than invent a new execution system. That means drafts, scheduling, approvals, calendars, accounts, and analytics can be made available across AI-native and integration surfaces while Postly stays the source of truth for execution.
Metrics to Watch
- Tool usage: which MCP actions get used most often.
- Workflow completion: how often AI-generated intent becomes a completed action.
- Approval rate: how many AI-triggered drafts move through review successfully.
- Time saved: whether AI-triggered flows reduce execution time.
- Error rate: how often auth, validation, or workflow failures occur.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Too much logic in MCP: move business logic back into Postly services.
- Unsafe actions: default to drafts and approvals instead of direct publishing.
- Permission mismatches: enforce workspace and role checks before execution.
- Generic tool design: define clearer, narrower action schemas.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- How should MCP permissions work for social media?
- They should mirror the publishing platform’s existing workspace roles and action-level permissions.
Next Steps
Start by exposing one high-value Postly workflow through MCP, then validate how often users complete that flow from an AI surface. From there, expand into adjacent actions like approvals, scheduling, queue checks, and analytics.