Big changes are happening, and we think you’re going to love them. CData Connect Cloud is now CData Connect AI, the world’s first managed model context protocol (MCP) platform. And this marks a powerful new chapter in how you connect enterprise data to AI.
This is more than a name change. It signals a major evolution in what’s possible: secure, real-time access to your enterprise data for the AI tools and agents you’re already exploring at no extra cost, and with no reconfiguration.
For our customers, everything you rely on remains the same: your connectors, credentials, and configurations are unchanged. But now, Connect AI introduces a new level of value: enabling secure, governed, live access to your data for AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Crew AI without data replication or code changes.
Meet CData Connect AI
A trusted foundation for the AI era
CData Connect AI is the evolution of the platform trusted by thousands of organizations to virtualize and simplify access to SaaS, database, and ERP data. The new name aligns with how our platform can be used from today onward: as the connective layer between enterprise data and AI assistants, workflows, and agents.
AI is changing how businesses operate. With Connect AI, organizations can make their data instantly available, securely and in real-time, to the tools and agents that drive AI-enabled productivity.
Why AI, and why now?
While the promise of AI is massive, enterprise data is rarely available where AI tools can use it effectively. Most LLM-based assistants and agents are disconnected from live, governed data sources, forcing teams to rely on outdated exports, risky file uploads, or manually engineered pipelines.
CData Connect AI bridges this gap. It delivers live access to hundreds of enterprise data sources, enabling your AI tools to query the same governed systems your teams already trust without moving data or writing custom code.
Whether you're piloting GenAI internally or building AI-powered experiences into your product, Connect AI gets your data where it needs to be.
What you can do with Connect AI
CData Connect AI supports native integration with AI assistants, orchestration frameworks, and multi-agent systems, allowing you to:
Ask ChatGPT for real-time sales pipeline summaries directly from Salesforce or HubSpot (learn more)
Let Claude analyze forecast data live from NetSuite or Snowflake (learn more)
Enable Crew AI agents to coordinate across systems, such as CRMs and ERPs (learn more)
Use LangChain or LangGraph to build agentic workflows with live, governed data sources (learn more)
All of this happens without ETL or replication — giving you secure, live access with the full governance of your existing systems.
What’s new and what stays the same
We’ve renamed the platform to better reflect how it’s used, but the foundations of CData Connect remain intact.
New in Connect AI | What stays the same |
|---|
Updated name and branding Model context protocol (MCP) support Native AI integrations (ChatGPT, Claude, LangChain, etc.) Support for multi-agent frameworks Expanded AI developer documentation
| Your connectors and configurations Your credentials and datasets Your pricing and plan details Your existing data virtualization setup Product capabilities like caching, pushdown, and more
|
The best part? You don’t need to lift a finger. Your current setup works exactly as before, now with powerful new AI capabilities ready to go.
Model Context Protocol makes it possible
CData Connect AI now includes support for Model Context Protocol (MCP), the emerging standard that enables AI systems to securely access live, contextual data. With MCP, Connect AI serves as the data layer for AI tools, supplying the most relevant, up-to-date information when it’s needed and respecting your organization’s data access rules.
Real-world use cases, powered by Connect AI
Connect AI makes it easy to deploy practical, high-impact AI use cases with your live data:
Sales and marketing teams can generate live pipeline summaries, track campaign ROI, and analyze account health in real time
FP&A teams can query ERP and finance data directly in natural language to build instant forecasts or variance reports
IT and operations teams can adopt AI securely without duplicating or exposing sensitive data
Product teams can build GenAI features into applications, powered by live business data via MCP
Whether you’re adopting AI internally or building the next AI-native product, CData Connect AI delivers the governed, real-time data access you need.
Build something new today with Connect AI
The name is new, but the power of Connect AI builds on the platform you already trust. Only now, it’s AI-ready out of the box and you can start exploring what’s possible today.
Sign in or get your free trial to get started!
Frequently asked questions
Why did CData change the name from Connect Cloud to Connect AI?
The new name reflects the evolution of the product. CData Connect AI includes everything customers loved about Connect Cloud — and adds the ability to power AI assistants, agents, and workflows using governed, live enterprise data. The new name better reflects how customers are using the product today.
How do I get started with the new AI features?
Log into Connect AI and click Connect Data to AI in the menu bar.
Alternatively, click Integrations on the left and select your preferred AI tool.
What's changing for me as an existing customer?
Only the name and logo. Your experience remains the same:
No need to migrate or reconfigure anything
No change to pricing, connectors, credentials, or integrations
UI remains consistent, with new options for AI tools
Why emphasize AI now?
Enterprises are rapidly adopting AI — but AI is only useful at work if it can access real, governed business data. That's exactly what Connect AI enables. CData has been building this infrastructure for years, and now we're making it easier to adopt AI without sacrificing security or control.
Is Connect AI the same product as Connect Cloud?
Yes. Connect AI is built on the same proven platform. All features like Virtual Datasets, Derived Views, Query Builder, Data Explorer, and Caching remain available.
Do I need to do anything to start using Connect AI?
No. You can continue using the platform exactly as you have. If you're ready to explore AI functionality, you can connect tools like ChatGPT or Claude with just a few clicks.
Are there any new features?
Yes — while nothing is being taken away, Connect AI adds:
Support for MCP (Model Context Protocol) for real-time AI integration
Out-of-the-box support for AI tools and orchestration frameworks
A new Universal MCP endpoint to connect any MCP-compatible model
What is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
MCP is a new open standard that enables AI tools to access and query business data via connectors, without moving data. Developed by Anthropic and adopted widely in 2025, MCP allows AI to understand data contextually and securely. Connect AI has the largest MCP connector library available.
Which AI tools does Connect AI support?
Connect AI supports a wide range of AI use cases:
Category | Examples |
|---|
Assistants | ChatGPT, Claude |
Workflows | n8n, Gumloop |
Agent Platforms | Microsoft Copilot Studio, CrewAI, Agentforce |
Frameworks | LangChain, OpenAI, Google Gemini ADK |
Other | Custom MCP-compatible tools via Universal MCP |
Can I use my own private or self-hosted LLM?
Yes. As long as your model can communicate via MCP or compatible APIs, Connect AI can connect to it.
What are some example use cases for AI integration?
Sales: "Summarize this quarter's pipeline from Salesforce."
Marketing: "Show me ROI by campaign from HubSpot and Google Ads."
Finance: "Forecast Q4 revenue using NetSuite actuals."
Product: Embed AI-powered assistants into your app with full data context.
Can I use my own private or self-hosted LLM?
Yes. As long as your model can communicate via MCP or compatible APIs, Connect AI can connect to it.
What are some example use cases for AI integration?
Sales: "Summarize this quarter's pipeline from Salesforce."
Marketing: "Show me ROI by campaign from HubSpot and Google Ads."
Finance: "Forecast Q4 revenue using NetSuite actuals."
Product: Embed AI-powered assistants into your app with full data context.
Does Connect AI support NL2SQL (natural language to SQL)?
Yes. You can ask AI tools connected through Connect AI to answer questions using natural language. The AI translates your query into SQL using context provided by the connected data source.
Is Connect AI secure?
Yes. Connect AI is enterprise-grade:
No data replication: AI connects to live data
OAuth 2.1 with PKCE, SSO integration
AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit
Passthrough permissions: AI users only see data they're allowed to
No data stored by CData — we're a proxy, not a database
Does Connect AI log user or AI activity?
Yes. Connect AI logs include metadata on user activity and data source access — not raw prompts or model content — for full auditing and compliance.
Is Connect AI independently audited or certified?
Yes. Connect AI meets enterprise compliance standards:
Can I prevent certain fields or tables from being used by AI?
Yes. Administrators have full control over what data is exposed through Connect AI. You can enforce row-level, column-level, and table-level access policies.
Has the pricing changed with the rebrand?
Does each AI user need their own Connect AI seat?
Yes. This ensures passthrough of source-level permissions and auditability. Each user authenticates using their own credentials, and data access is governed accordingly.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — a 14-day free trial is available for new users. It includes full access to Connect AI's AI integrations, connectors, and governance features.
What are best practices for prompting AI once connected?
Be specific: "Revenue by product for Q2 from NetSuite"
Name the system: "Use the Salesforce 'Opportunities' table"
Use iterative follow-up questions
Add filters and date ranges to narrow scope
Does Connect AI train or fine-tune AI models?
No. Connect AI provides live, governed data access — it does not train or customize models. It feeds secure data to the AI tools you connect.
What if I already use Zapier, Snowflake, or ETL tools to connect data to AI?
Connect AI is:
Simpler: No code, no ETL
More secure: Full governance, audit trails, and passthrough permissions
More flexible: Supports a wide range of models and frameworks in one platform
Do I need to reconfigure my current integrations?
No. All existing data sources, connectors, and configurations are preserved.
Will the product UI change?
Only branding — the product is still intuitive and consistent. You'll see the new Connect AI name and logo, plus new AI tools in the integrations tab.
What's the latency like?
Connect AI provides real-time querying, comparable to tools like Tableau or Power BI. Performance depends on the source system.
Are there usage limits or API caps?
Connect AI follows a fair use model. API limits depend on the source and connected AI tool. Admins can enforce row or query caps as needed.
