Connect Vanta to VS Code
Give VS Code governed access to Vanta through Runlayer, with identity, policy, scanning, and audit on every call.
Set up
Add Vanta to VS Code in four steps
Admins approve the server once. Everyone in VS Code then gets it through the same governed connection.
- 1
Approve Vanta in Runlayer
Add Vanta from the catalog and choose who can use it and which of its tools are allowed.
- 2
Connect VS Code to Runlayer
Runlayer’s CLI installs the Runlayer Plugin natively in VS Code; users can also add it over MCP. With direct tool listing turned on for your deployment, Vanta’s tools show up in VS Code’s own tool list (VS Code 1.103 or newer).
VS Code setup guide - 3
Sign in to Vanta
An admin adds Vanta credentials to Runlayer once. They never sit in the client’s configuration.
- 4
Use Vanta from VS Code
Vanta’s approved tools appear in VS Code. Every call is checked against policy and recorded.
Tools
Vanta tools in VS Code
Vanta reports its tools when your organization connects it, so the list depends on your deployment.
Control
What Runlayer can see and stop in VS Code
Some controls apply to every client at the gateway. Others depend on what VS Code exposes to Runlayer.
Gateway policy (available)
Every Vanta call from VS Code passes through Runlayer, where your policies can allow, alert, mask, or block it.
Audit trail (available)
Each call is recorded with the user, VS Code as the client, the tool, and the policy and scanner decisions.
Client hooks (available)
Capture supported prompts, reasoning, local and MCP tool calls, responses, and scanner decisions in real time.
Stop a call before it runs (available)
Runlayer can deny a tool call before VS Code runs it.
Block output after it runs (available)
Runlayer can block a tool’s output before VS Code’s model sees it.
Redact output in place (available)
Runlayer can mask sensitive parts of a tool’s output in VS Code and pass the rest through.
Frequently asked questions
Connect more