backup_now · Claude Team MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What backup_now does on Claude Team MCP

AI agents use backup_now to create or update resources in Claude Team MCP — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Claude Team MCP environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why backup_now needs a policy

This tool creates a backup snapshot of the team state, which is a write operation (creating a new snapshot/file). It does not delete or overwrite existing data irreversibly — backups are typically additive. Misuse could cause storage issues or capture sensitive state at unintended moments, but it's not destructive or financial in nature.

From the tool's definition Force an immediate backup snapshot of the whole team state

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

backup_now Rate-limited

backup_now stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "backup_now": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "backup_now_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Claude Team MCP, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about backup_now

What does the backup_now tool do? +

Force an immediate backup snapshot of the whole team state. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Claude Team MCP MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on backup_now? +

Register the Claude Team MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for backup_now: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Claude Team MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is backup_now? +

backup_now is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit backup_now? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the backup_now rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block backup_now completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for backup_now. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides backup_now? +

backup_now is provided by the Claude Team MCP server (lakshan12367/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.