The enterprise software landscape is rapidly evolving as AI agents move from isolated tools to intelligent systems that interact across boundaries. Instead of operating independently, modern agents must collaborate across clouds, vendors, and organizations. Microsoft is leading this shift by adopting open protocols that foster seamless, secure agent communication, ensuring real-time cooperation and adaptability.
Introducing Agent2Agent (A2A): The Open Protocol for AI Agents
Agent2Agent (A2A) is an open protocol enabling structured and secure communication between AI agents, regardless of their underlying platforms. By integrating A2A within Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio, Microsoft empowers agents to:
- Share objectives, manage states, and trigger actions across various technical and organizational environments
- Operate safely with enterprise-grade security measures such as Microsoft Entra, mutual TLS, Azure AI Content Safety, and detailed audit trails
- Support compliance and governance, facilitating dynamic, multi-agent workflows
Empowering Developers and Organizations
This protocol democratizes multi-agent system development. Both professional and citizen developers can use familiar frameworks like Semantic Kernel or LangChain to build interoperable agentic solutions. The benefits for organizations include:
- Orchestrating complex workflows that span vendors, clouds, and data silos
- Maintaining control, transparency, and trust without being locked into a single platform
- Scaling intelligent systems efficiently through open standards and robust security
Microsoft's commitment to open collaboration is accelerating industry adoption of shared agent protocols, ensuring agent capabilities extend beyond proprietary ecosystems.
Key Benefits of A2A Integration
- Azure AI Foundry users can design rich, multi-agent workflows integrating internal copilots, partner solutions, and production systems—all within a governed environment.
- Copilot Studio agents can securely interact with external agents, even those outside Microsoft's infrastructure.
- Enterprises benefit from composable, intelligent systems that scale flexibly and securely.
- Microsoft's contributions to A2A help cultivate a vibrant, collaborative agent ecosystem for the entire developer community.
The Future of Agentic Computing
Agentic computing is more than a trend; it's a fundamental change in software design and business value creation. Microsoft actively participates in the A2A working group, shaping specifications and tooling to push the protocol forward. A public preview of A2A in Foundry and Copilot Studio is on the horizon, paving the way for the next generation of adaptive, collaborative software solutions.
Getting Started with A2A
To make adoption easier, Microsoft has released a Semantic Kernel sample (Python) demonstrating two local agents planning a travel itinerary and handling currency conversion using A2A—without bespoke orchestration code. This hands-on example highlights how the protocol enables effortless, out-of-the-box agent cooperation.
Openness and Interoperability at the Core
Microsoft's vision is to build agentic systems that are collaborative, observable, and adaptable by default. Through support for A2A and other open protocols, Microsoft enables organizations to reach new heights in productivity and innovation. With A2A, agents are no longer isolated—they become part of a connected, intelligent ecosystem.
Source: Microsoft Cloud Blog
Microsoft's Open Agent2Agent Protocol Is Transforming Multi-Agent Collaboration