> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ai-security-docs.akto.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ai-security-docs.akto.io/ask-akto/github-copilot-integration.md).

# Run with GitHub Copilot

## Overview

You can run Ask Akto with GitHub Copilot as the underlying AI model using the **Bring Your Own Model** configuration. This lets you power your on-prem Ask Akto assistant with GitHub Copilot instead of Anthropic Claude.

{% hint style="info" %}
You can use this integration only with **on-premises deployments**.
{% endhint %}

## Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

* A running self-hosted Akto deployment
* Your GitHub Copilot access with a valid API key
* Admin access to your Akto dashboard
* The following variable added to your **Akto API Security Dashboard env file**, and the service restarted to apply it:

  ```bash
  AKTO_MCP_SERVER_URL=<your-mcp-server-url>
  ```

## Configuration

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Generate Your GitHub Copilot API Key**

You need a GitHub **fine-grained personal access token** to authenticate with GitHub Copilot. Here's how to generate one:

1. Go to [github.com](https://github.com) and click your **profile picture** → **Settings**
2. Scroll to the bottom of the left sidebar and click **Developer settings**
3. Go to **Personal access tokens** → **Fine-grained tokens**
4. Click **Generate new token**
5. Give your token a recognizable name (e.g., `akto-copilot`) and set an expiration that suits your policy
6. Under **Permissions** → **Account permissions**, add the following three permissions, all set to **Read-only**:
   * **Copilot Chat**
   * **Copilot Editor Context**
   * **Copilot Requests**
7. Click **Generate token** at the bottom
8. **Copy your token immediately** — GitHub will only show it once

You'll use this token as your API key in the next step.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configure GitHub Copilot as Your Model**

Add your token to Akto so it can call GitHub Copilot:

1. In your Akto dashboard, go to **Settings → Integrations → Agents**
2. Click **Add Model**
3. Select **GitHub Copilot** as the provider
4. Enter a **Name**, paste your token into the **API Key** field, and pick a supported **Model**
5. Click **Save**

{% hint style="warning" %}
Only models that your GitHub Copilot subscription has access to will work. While configuring, make sure to pick a model that's actually available to you — otherwise the integration will fail.
{% endhint %}

For more details on each field and the full list of supported models, see the [Agent Configuration](/integrations/agent-configuration.md) guide.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Update Your Environment File**

Open your `docker-agentic-testing-dashboard.env` file and update it with the following values:

```bash
# Leave this empty — you're using GitHub Copilot as your model provider
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=""

NODE_ENV=production
PORT=5500
AGENTIC_MODE=true

MCP_SERVER_URL=<YOUR_AKTO_MCP_SERVER_URL>

# Required when you're using GitHub Copilot
DASHBOARD_URL=<YOUR_AKTO_DASHBOARD_URL>
AKTO_API_KEY=<YOUR_AKTO_API_KEY>
```

**What you need to set (GitHub Copilot specific)**

| Variable            | What to set                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` | Leave it empty — you're using GitHub Copilot instead.                                                                           |
| `AGENTIC_MODE`      | Must be set to `true`.                                                                                                          |
| `MCP_SERVER_URL`    | Your Akto MCP server URL.                                                                                                       |
| `DASHBOARD_URL`     | Your Akto Agentic AI Security Dashboard's base URL.                                                                             |
| `AKTO_API_KEY`      | Your Akto API key for authenticating with the Akto dashboard. Generate it from Settings → Integrations → Automation → Akto API. |

{% hint style="warning" %}
Make sure you add **all** of the environment variables listed above — including the empty ones like `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=""`. Missing any of them might cause the service to misbehave or fail to start.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Restart Your Services**

Restart your services to apply the updated environment file:

```bash
docker compose down && docker compose up -d
```

To confirm everything is running, follow the [Verify Connectivity](/ask-akto/self-hosted-deployment.md#verify-connectivity) steps from the base deployment guide.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Support

If you need help with the deployment:

* **Discord Community**: Join our community at [discord.gg/Wpc6xVME4s](https://discord.gg/Wpc6xVME4s)
* **Email Support**: Contact us at <support@akto.io>

Our team is available 24/7 to assist you with setup, troubleshooting, and best practices.