archive-email · Outlook MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What archive-email does on Outlook MCP Server

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why archive-email needs a policy

Archiving is a reversible write operation that changes email metadata/folder state but does not destroy data or execute code. It falls below Destructive (since the email remains recoverable and intact) and below Execute (no code/external operations).

From the tool's definition Tool moves an email to the Archive folder, which modifies email organization state reversibly without deleting the message. Description explicitly states 'Moves an email to the Archive folder.'

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

archive-email Rate-limited

archive-email 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": {
    "archive-email": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "archive-email_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 Outlook MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about archive-email

What does the archive-email tool do? +

Moves an email to the Archive folder. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Outlook MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on archive-email? +

Register the Outlook MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for archive-email: 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 Outlook MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is archive-email? +

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

Can I rate-limit archive-email? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the archive-email 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 archive-email completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for archive-email. 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 archive-email? +

archive-email is provided by the Outlook MCP Server MCP server (peacockery-studio/outlook-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.