pbir_add_visual · Power BI MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What pbir_add_visual does on Power BI MCP Server

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why pbir_add_visual needs a policy

This tool creates and inserts new visual elements (card, kpi, tableEx, slicer, barChart, etc.) into a Power BI report. Creating visualizations is a reversible modification operation—the visual can be deleted or the report reverted. This does not execute arbitrary code, delete data, or cause irreversible changes, placing it firmly in the Write category.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Add a visual to a page in the loaded PBIR-Enhanced project', which creates new visualization objects that modify the Power BI report structure.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

pbir_add_visual Rate-limited

pbir_add_visual 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": {
    "pbir_add_visual": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "pbir_add_visual_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 Power BI MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about pbir_add_visual

What does the pbir_add_visual tool do? +

[PREVIEW] Add a visual to a page in the loaded PBIR-Enhanced project. Supported visual_type: card, kpi, tableEx, slicer, barChart, columnChart, lineChart, areaChart, pieChart, donutChart, gauge, pivotTable. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Power BI 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 pbir_add_visual? +

Register the Power BI MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pbir_add_visual: 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 Power BI MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is pbir_add_visual? +

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

Can I rate-limit pbir_add_visual? +

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

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

pbir_add_visual is provided by the Power BI MCP Server MCP server (sulaiman013/powerbi-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.