# Apono Assist

{% hint style="success" %}
We launched the Access Assistant MCP Server - request the access you need from your favorite AI Tool - Claude, Copilot, VSCode, and others. Learn more [here](https://docs.apono.io/docs/access-requests-and-approvals/apono-assist-mcp-server).
{% endhint %}

If you’re not sure which permissions or resources to request for a given task, Apono Assist helps streamline the process.

**Apono Assist** is an AI-powered assistant that guides you through access requests by interpreting natural language inputs like tasks, error messages, or general queries. Instead of relying on admins or managers to identify the right resources, you can describe what you’re trying to do, and Apono Assist returns context-aware suggestions.

<figure><img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-398ab874054de80f7da36faad678378ff5f74c48%2Fapono-assist-query.png?alt=media" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Apono Assist</p></figcaption></figure>

For example, you can type: `I need access to view logs to debug an issue.` Apono Assist identifies relevant log-related resources, suggests the appropriate permissions, and helps create the access request with minimal input.

{% hint style="info" %}
Apono Assist **does not** retain context between conversations. Information from previous conversations is not stored or referenced in new conversations.
{% endhint %}

***

### Prerequisites

<table><thead><tr><th width="170.5546875">Item</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Platform access</strong></td><td>Apono Assist requires an Apono Portal user account or integrations with <a href="../additional-integrations/chatops-integrations/slack-integration">Slack</a>, <a href="../additional-integrations/chatops-integrations/teams-integration">Teams</a> or <a href="../additional-integrations/chatops-integrations/backstage-integration">Backstage</a>.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Apono enablement</strong></td><td>Contact the Apono Support team (<a href="mailto:support@apono.io">support@apono.io</a>) to have this feature enabled for your account.</td></tr></tbody></table>

***

### Get help from Apono Assist

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Web Portal, Teams, Backstage" %}

<figure><img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7a35c1b8d26b9c12e2cecbe2d7dde5b071e05597%2Fapono-assist-query-chat.png?alt=media" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Apono Assist conversation</p></figcaption></figure>

Follow these steps to request guidance from Apono Assist:

1. Click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e342cc92e72597b76dccf0ff5e6af97579ddbf01%2Fimage%20(75).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (Apono Assist icon). The **Apono Assist** panel opens.
2. In the **Ask a question...** text field, enter the explicit action you want to complete, error message, or general search.

<details>

<summary>Action-based prompt</summary>

Example:

```
I need access to view logs to solve a bug.
```

</details>

<details>

<summary>Error message prompt</summary>

Example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
AccessDeniedException: 403 does not have storage.buckets.get access to the Google Cloud Storage bucket gcf-sources-xxxxxxxxxxxx-us-central1.
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>General search prompt</summary>

Examples:

```
- Show me all resources related to AWS.
- Show me only S3 buckets.
```

{% hint style="success" %}
You can also click one of the general search prompts above the **Ask a question...** text field.

Additionally, you can input the access duration in your prompt. Apono Assist adds it to the request automatically.
{% endhint %}

</details>

{% hint style="info" %}
Apono Assist only shows the first **three** results in the chat. See [**View All**](#view-all) or [**Preview**](#preview) to see more of the results.
{% endhint %}

3. (General search prompt - optional) Repeat step **2** to refine the search in the chat with **Apono Assist**.
4. **Select** a resource. Apono Assist may ask additional questions depending on the resources.
5. Respond to the questions asked by Apono Assist. After responding to the questions, an access request is generated.
6. (Optional) Click **Preview** to view all the resources included in the request.
7. Click **Create Resource Request** to create and submit the access request.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you do not see this option, one of the following is the reason:

* [**Require duration for access request**](https://docs.apono.io/docs/access-flows/creating-access-flows-in-apono/access-duration) is enabled.
* The access request has custom fields that must be populated.

In either case, you can click [**Preview**](#preview) and complete the access request on the **Resources Request** tab outside of the **Apono Assist** panel.
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Slack" %}

<figure><img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-19c9d5ce9f1482132ffac4d5d80f3b0c4cae9aac%2Fapono-assist-slack%20(1).png?alt=media" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Apono Assist conversation</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
If you integrated with Slack prior to February 2026, you must renew your token to access Apono Assist.

1. On the [**Connected**](https://app.apono.io/catalog/connected?search=slack) tab, in the row of your connected Slack integration, click **︙> Edit**. The **Edit Integration** page appears.
2. Click **Renew Token**. The **Allow the "Apono" app to access Slack** page appears.
3. For your Slack **Workspace**, click **Allow**. The Apono **Connected** tab reappears.
   {% endhint %}

Follow these steps to request guidance from Apono Assist:

1. In the Apono Slack app, on the **Messages** tab, enter the explicit action you want to complete, error message, or general search. Apono Assist will respond in a threaded message.

<details>

<summary>Action-based prompt</summary>

Example:

```
I need access to view logs to solve a bug.
```

</details>

<details>

<summary>Error message prompt</summary>

Example:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
AccessDeniedException: 403 does not have storage.buckets.get access to the Google Cloud Storage bucket gcf-sources-xxxxxxxxxxxx-us-central1.
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>General search prompt</summary>

Examples:

```
- Show me all resources related to AWS.
- Show me only S3 buckets.
```

{% hint style="success" %}
You can also click one of the general search prompts above the **Ask a question...** text field.
{% endhint %}

</details>

{% hint style="info" %}
Apono Assist only shows the first **three** results.
{% endhint %}

2. (General search prompt - optional) Repeat step **1** to refine the search in the chat with Apono Assist.
3. (Optional) Click **Preview** to view all the resources included in a resource request. The information will be displayed in the **Request Access** pop-up window. If this is your desired resource skip to step **6**. Otherwise, click **Cancel** and continue to step **4**.
4. **Select** a resource. Apono Assist may ask additional questions depending on the resources.
5. Respond to the questions asked by Apono Assist. After responding to the questions, an access request is generated.
6. Click **Create Resource Request** to create and submit the access request.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you do not see this option, one of the following is the reason:

* [**Require duration for access request**](https://docs.apono.io/docs/access-flows/creating-access-flows-in-apono/access-duration) is enabled.
* The access request has custom fields that must be populated.

In either case, you can click **Preview** and complete the access request on the **Resources Request** pop-up window.
{% endhint %}

7. Click **Request Details** to view the submitted request notification.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

#### View All

{% hint style="info" %}
This functionality is available for the following clients:

* Web Portal
* Teams
* Backstage
  {% endhint %}

If the resources you want to request are not listed within the first three results, you can follow these steps:

1. Click **View All** to see all the resources Apono Assist discovered. The full list of resources appears on the **Resources Request** tab. You will see the criteria used to filter the resources for the list of suggestions provided.
2. Select one or several resources.
3. Follow the rest of the steps to complete your access request in the [Apono Portal](https://docs.apono.io/docs/web-portal/requesting-access-with-web-portal#request-new-access), [Teams](https://docs.apono.io/docs/teams/requesting-access-with-teams#request-access), or [Backstage](https://docs.apono.io/docs/access-requests-and-approvals/backstage/requesting-access-with-web-portal).

#### Preview

{% hint style="info" %}
This functionality is available for the following clients:

* Web Portal
* Teams
* Backstage
  {% endhint %}

Follow these steps to view similarly-name titled resources:

1. Click **Preview** to see all the resources Apono Assist discovered with a similar resource title. The list of resources with the same resource title appears on the **Resource Request** tab.
2. Select one or several resources.
3. Follow the rest of the steps to complete your access request in the [Apono Portal](https://docs.apono.io/docs/web-portal/requesting-access-with-web-portal#request-new-access), [Teams](https://docs.apono.io/docs/teams/requesting-access-with-teams#request-access), or [Backstage](https://docs.apono.io/docs/access-requests-and-approvals/backstage/requesting-access-with-web-portal).

***

### Manage chat history

#### View conversation history

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Web Portal, Teams, Backstage" %}
You can view your last 30 days of conversation history with Apono Assist. Conversations started within any client will be listed.

Follow these steps to search your conversation history:

1. Click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e342cc92e72597b76dccf0ff5e6af97579ddbf01%2Fimage%20(75).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (Apono Assist icon). The **Apono Assist** panel opens.
2. Click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7f5a4bbc8335ab06bc93ffeae79e42b1847dbdf5%2Fimage%20(76).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (Chat history icon). A popup window appears listing your conversation history.
3. (Optional) In the **Search** box, enter keywords to filter the history list.
4. Select a conversation.
   {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Slack" %}
You can view your Slack conversation history with Apono Assist, subject to your organization’s Slack data retention policies.

{% hint style="info" %}
Slack shows only the Slack portion of a conversation. To view the full conversation history, use the Web Portal, Teams, or Backstage.
{% endhint %}

Follow these steps to search your conversation history:

1. In the Apono Slack app, click the Messages tab.
2. Scroll through the messages on the tab to find your Apono Assist conversations.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

#### Delete a conversation

{% hint style="info" %}
In the Apono Slack app, you **cannot** delete Apono Assist conversations.
{% endhint %}

Follow these steps to delete a conversation:

1. Click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e342cc92e72597b76dccf0ff5e6af97579ddbf01%2Fimage%20(75).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (Apono Assist icon). The **Apono Assist** panel opens.
2. Click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7f5a4bbc8335ab06bc93ffeae79e42b1847dbdf5%2Fimage%20(76).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (Chat history icon). A popup window appears listing your conversation history.
3. (Optional) In the **Search** box, enter keywords to filter the history list.
4. In the row of a conversation, click <img src="https://1094436629-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fv6MBfUGvblSdAz31yJXm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-743f52a3137a2b34c7dea4e536e14612449f06ad%2Fimage%20(77).png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> (trash icon).