# read_resource

Read content from a resource URI (primarily for local files).

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `read_resource`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/read-resource

## Facts

- Tool: `read_resource`
- Server: ComplianceCow MCP Server (`compliancecow/cow-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/ComplianceCow/cow-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "read_resource",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why read_resource is rated Low

This tool retrieves or queries data from a resource (file) with no side effects. It performs a read-only operation that does not create, modify, delete, or execute code. The explicit mention of 'Read' in the tool name and 'read content' in the description confirms the Read category.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'read_resource' and description 'Read content from a resource URI (primarily for local files)' indicate retrieval of data without modification or deletion."

## Use case

AI agents call read_resource to retrieve information from ComplianceCow MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches ComplianceCow MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "read_resource": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on ComplianceCow MCP Server (208)

- `delete_asset_schedule` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/delete-asset-schedule.md
- `create_sql_query_evidence` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/create-sql-query-evidence.md
- `execute_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/execute-action.md
- `execute_cypher_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/execute-cypher-query.md
- `execute_rule` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/execute-rule.md
- `execute_shell_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/execute-shell-command.md
- `execute_task` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/execute-task.md
- `prepare_applications_for_execution` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/prepare-applications-for-execution.md
- `run_metrics_assessment` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/run-metrics-assessment.md
- `schedule_asset_execution` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/schedule-asset-execution.md
- `trigger_workflow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/trigger-workflow.md
- `validate_sql_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/validate-sql-query.md
- `validate_sql_query_and_cel` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/validate-sql-query-and-cel.md
- `collect_parameter_input` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/collect-parameter-input.md
- `confirm_parameter_input` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/confirm-parameter-input.md
- `confirm_template_input` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/confirm-template-input.md
- `create_metric_sql_query_evidence` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/create-metric-sql-query-evidence.md
- `create_workflow_custom_event` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/create-workflow-custom-event.md
- `generate_design_notes_preview` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/generate-design-notes-preview.md
- `generate_rule_readme_preview` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/generate-rule-readme-preview.md
- `modify_workflow` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/modify-workflow.md
- `publish_application` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/publish-application.md
- `audit_fetch_assessment_run_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-fetch-assessment-run-details.md
- `audit_fetch_assessment_run_leaf_control_evidence` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-fetch-assessment-run-leaf-control-evidence.md
- `audit_fetch_assessment_runs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-fetch-assessment-runs.md
- `audit_fetch_evidence_records` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-fetch-evidence-records.md
- `audit_get_uses_by_ids` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-get-uses-by-ids.md
- `audit_list_all_assessment_categories` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-list-all-assessment-categories.md
- `audit_list_all_assessments` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-list-all-assessments.md
- `audit_list_assessment_control_configs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp/audit-list-assessment-control-configs.md
- …and 178 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/compliancecow-cow-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=compliancecow-cow-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/compliancecow-cow-mcp