Getting Started
Overview

AZTP Client Overview

What is AZTP Client?

The AZTP Client is an enterprise-grade identity service library that provides secure workload identity management using AZTP (Agentic Zero Trust Protocol) standards. Designed specifically for AI agent ecosystems, it enables organizations to implement comprehensive security controls for distributed AI workloads and Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementations.

Core Architecture

AZTP Client implements a Triangle of Trust security model developed by Frederick Kautz:

graph TD
    A["Identity"] --> D["Secure Decision"]
    B["Policy"] --> D
    C["Control"] --> D
    A --> B
    B --> C
    C --> A
    
    subgraph Identity_Layer ["Identity Layer"]
    A1["Cryptographic Verification"]
    A2["Component Authentication"] 
    A3["Zero Trust Validation"]
    end
    
    subgraph Policy_Layer ["Policy Layer"]
    B1["Access Control Rules"]
    B2["Organizational Policies"]
    B3["Real-time Evaluation"]
    end
    
    subgraph Control_Layer ["Control Layer"]
    C1["Runtime Enforcement"]
    C2["Audit & Monitoring"]
    C3["Dynamic Response"]
    end
    
    A --> A1
    A --> A2
    A --> A3
    B --> B1
    B --> B2
    B --> B3
    C --> C1
    C --> C2
    C --> C3

Triangle of Trust Architecture: AZTP Client implements a comprehensive security model where Identity, Policy, and Control layers work together to ensure secure AI agent communication.

Key Principles

  • Trust Nothing, Verify Everything - Every component interaction requires cryptographic verification
  • Least Privilege Access - Components receive minimal permissions necessary for their function
  • Continuous Validation - Identity and policy checks occur throughout the workflow lifecycle

Why Use AZTP Client?

For AI Agent Platforms

  • Secure Component Communication - Cryptographic identity verification between AI components
  • Policy-Driven Tool Access - Control which tools agents can use based on organizational policies
  • Flow-Level Security - Manage security contexts across complex AI workflows

For MCP Implementations

  • SAFE-MCP Protocol Support - Advanced security techniques for Model Context Protocol
  • Tool Poisoning Prevention - Validate and sanitize tool inputs/outputs
  • Prompt Injection Protection - Multi-layered defense against malicious prompts

For Enterprise Deployments

  • Zero Trust Architecture - No implicit trust between components
  • Compliance Ready - Support for OIDC, SPIFFE, OAuth 2.0, and RFC 8705
  • Audit & Monitoring - Comprehensive logging and policy enforcement tracking

Real-World Use Cases

1. Langflow AI Workflows

AZTP Client secures visual AI workflows by providing:

  • Component identity verification
  • Inter-component policy enforcement
  • Flow-level security orchestration
  • Real-time policy evaluation

2. MCP Server Security

Implement SAFE-MCP protocols for:

  • Tool input validation (SAFE-T1001)
  • Prompt injection detection (SAFE-T1102)
  • Identity verification (SAFE-T1007)
  • Secure tool chaining

3. Multi-Agent Systems

Secure agent-to-agent communication through:

  • Identity linking and verification
  • Policy-based access control
  • Secure message passing
  • Trust relationship management

Supported Platforms

Languages

  • Python 3.8+ - Full feature support
  • TypeScript/JavaScript - Node.js 14+ support

Standards Compliance

  • RFC 8705 - OAuth 2.0 Mutual-TLS Client Authentication
  • SPIFFE - Secure Production Identity Framework
  • OIDC - OpenID Connect integration
  • SAFE-MCP - Security framework for Model Context Protocol

Trust Domains

  • aztp.network (default)
  • gptarticles.xyz
  • gptapps.ai
  • vcagents.ai

Security Features

Identity Management

  • Cryptographic Identities - Each component receives unique, verifiable identity
  • Identity Types - Global, linked, and parent/child relationships
  • Identity Flows - Group and manage collections of identities
  • Lifecycle Management - Create, verify, link, revoke, and restore identities

Policy Enforcement

  • Organization Identity Access Policy (OIAP) - User-based access control
  • Dynamic Policy Evaluation - Real-time permission checking
  • Granular Permissions - Fine-grained control over component capabilities
  • Policy Inheritance - Hierarchical policy structures

Advanced Security

  • Zero Trust Networking - No implicit trust between components
  • Continuous Verification - Ongoing identity and policy validation
  • Audit Trails - Comprehensive logging of all security events
  • Threat Detection - Real-time monitoring and response

Getting Started

Ready to implement secure AI agent communication? Continue with:

  1. Installation Guide - Set up AZTP Client in your environment
  2. Quick Start Tutorial - Create your first secure connection
  3. Trusted Domains - Configure trust boundaries
  4. Identity Management - Deep dive into identity concepts

Enterprise Support

For enterprise deployments, AZTP Client provides:

  • Professional Support - Technical assistance and consultation
  • Custom Integrations - Tailored solutions for specific requirements
  • Compliance Assistance - Help meeting regulatory and security standards
  • Training & Onboarding - Team education and best practices

Contact Astha.ai (opens in a new tab) for enterprise inquiries.

Installation