search_tools
Search the full NowAIKit tool catalog (400+ tools) by keyword to discover the right tool without loading every definition. Returns matching tool names + descriptions ranked by relevance. Use this FIRST when you are unsure which tool to call. Especially useful with MCP_TOOL_DISCOVERY=lean, which e...
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What search_tools does on NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit
AI agents call search_tools to retrieve information from NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why search_tools is rated Low
This tool retrieves and returns information about available tools in the catalog without modifying, executing, or deleting any data. It is a read-only discovery mechanism that searches and returns results, with no side effects or operational impact on ServiceNow systems or data.
From the tool's definition "Search the full NowAIKit tool catalog (400+ tools) by keyword to discover the right tool without loading every definition. Returns matching tool names + descriptions ranked by relevance."
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_tools safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_tools, this is the rule to start with:
search_tools is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit, apply this rule, and every search_tools call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_tools
Search the full NowAIKit tool catalog (400+ tools) by keyword to discover the right tool without loading every definition. Returns matching tool names + descriptions ranked by relevance. Use this FIRST when you are unsure which tool to call. Especially useful with MCP_TOOL_DISCOVERY=lean, which exposes only a small core set plus this search. It is categorised as a Read tool in the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_tools: 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 NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit. Nothing to install.
search_tools is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_tools 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_tools. 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.
search_tools is provided by the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP server (nowaikit). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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