NextGen Identity Security

Descope vs NewCore for MCP security

SHORT ANSWER

On our weights for MCP security, NewCore scores 7.4 / 10 and Descope 5.6 / 10. Descope scores higher on deployment choice and buying clarity; NewCore scores higher on credentials kept from the agent; policy per tool call; user and agent bound together; and audit trail. They score the same on server isolation and approval.

Editorial assessment · Desk research from public vendor material · Reviewed 2026-09-29

Scores by criterion

C1Credentials kept from the agent25%
Descope
6

Handles token management and consent for MCP servers built on it; aimed at teams publishing MCP servers rather than governing third-party ones.

Source: Descope

NewCore
9

The MCP gateway executes calls "with credentials the agent never sees".

Source: NewCore: Agent Guardian

Higher score: NewCore

C2Policy per tool call25%
Descope
6

Scope-based access control.

Source: Descope

NewCore
9

Each call is checked at the operation level, with optional human approval.

Source: NewCore: Agent Guardian

Higher score: NewCore

C3User and agent bound together15%
Descope
7

Consent flows and Cross-App Access support.

Source: Descope

NewCore
8

Every action is tied to the agent, the accountable human or team, and the policy.

Source: NewCore: Agent Guardian

Higher score: NewCore

C4Audit trail10%
Descope
5Gap in public material

Audit export is not described on the page reviewed.

Source: Descope

NewCore
8

Audit records cover agent, accountable party, policy, tool and requested action.

Source: NewCore: Agent Guardian

Higher score: NewCore

C5Server isolation and approval15%
Descope
3

Server isolation is outside its scope.

Source: Descope

NewCore
3Gap in public material

Isolation of MCP servers themselves is not described.

Source: NewCore: Agent Guardian

Higher score: Tie

C6Deployment choice and buying clarity10%
Descope
6Gap in public material

Developer platform with OAuth 2.1 and Dynamic Client Registration; pricing not on the page reviewed.

Source: Descope

NewCore
4Gap in public material

Deployment model and pricing are not published.

Source: NewCore home page

Higher score: Descope

Weighted total

Descope 5.6 / 10 · NewCore 7.4 / 10

Higher score: NewCore

Where each one scores higher

Descope scores higher on

  • deployment choice and buying clarity (6 vs 4)

NewCore scores higher on

  • credentials kept from the agent (6 vs 9)
  • policy per tool call (6 vs 9)
  • user and agent bound together (7 vs 8)
  • audit trail (5 vs 8)

Pricing, side by side

Descope

Not on the page reviewed, contact sales.

Source: Descope

As published on 2026-09-29.

Visit Descope

NewCore

Not published, contact sales.

Source: NewCore home page

As published on 2026-09-29.

Visit NewCore

Which should you choose?

Choose Descope if user and agent bound together and credentials kept from the agent matter most. It scores 7 and 6 on them. Consent flows and Cross-App Access support.

Choose NewCore if credentials kept from the agent and policy per tool call matter most. It scores 9 and 9 on them. The MCP gateway executes calls "with credentials the agent never sees".

Questions

Which scores higher overall, Descope or NewCore?

On our weights for MCP security, NewCore scores 7.4 / 10 and Descope 5.6 / 10. Totals are the weighted average of six criterion scores; the weights are listed on the MCP security page.

Where does Descope score higher than NewCore?

On deployment choice and buying clarity.

Where does NewCore score higher than Descope?

On credentials kept from the agent; policy per tool call; user and agent bound together; and audit trail.

Related

Sources