Private Desktop Tools (stdio): Best for manipulating local files. Distribute the code via npm install -g or pipx install. The user edits claude_desktop_config.json manually.
Internal SaaS Integrations (SSE): Best for teams accessing a centralized company database securely. Deploy as an HTTP container on AWS/Vercel. Teams configure their Host with an API key.
Public Platforms: Companies providing public APIs (like Notion or Slack) will host public, rate-limited MCP endpoints that any user can connect their Claude Desktop to using OAuth.
🧪 Knowledge Check
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Which deployment strategy is best for a tool that scans identical local `node_modules` folders?
A public Vercel endpoint
A serverless function via SSE
A local stdio distribution via npm or pip
A Python Flask server on AWS EC2
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Deployment Strategies | Production & Sec — MCP Academy