start_interview · Copilot MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What start_interview does on CopilotMCP

AI agents invoke start_interview to trigger actions in CopilotMCP. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why start_interview needs a policy

This is Execute rather than Write because it triggers an external process whose effects depend on runtime arguments and state, not merely creating or modifying a data record. While it may collect customer data (a write operation), the primary function is to initiate a multi-step customer-facing workflow.

From the tool's definition The tool description states it will 'Trigger the start of the customer interview process.' The verb 'trigger' indicates the tool initiates an external operation with side effects—it launches a workflow involving customer interaction and data collection that…

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

start_interview Rate-limited

start_interview stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "start_interview": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "start_interview_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about start_interview

What does the start_interview tool do? +

Trigger the start of the customer interview process. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the CopilotMCP MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on start_interview? +

Register the Copilot MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for start_interview: 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 CopilotMCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is start_interview? +

start_interview is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit start_interview? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the start_interview 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 start_interview completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for start_interview. 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 start_interview? +

start_interview is provided by the Copilot MCP server (mehrshadshams/copilotmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.