Scan a table to find all references before renaming. Shows measures, calculated columns, and relationships that depend on this table. IMPORTANT: Use this before batch_rename_tables to understand the impact.
AI agents call scan_table_dependencies to retrieve information from Power BI MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and displays dependency information about a table without altering, deleting, or executing any operations. It is purely informational—a read-only query of the data model's structure. While it provides context for potentially destructive actions (renaming), the tool itself only queries and displays results.
From the tool's definition Tool performs scanning and analysis ('Scan a table to find all references', 'Shows measures, calculated columns, and relationships') with no modification or deletion capabilities.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Scan a table to find all references before renaming. Shows measures, calculated columns, and relationships that depend on this table. IMPORTANT: Use this before batch_rename_tables to understand the impact. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Power BI MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Power BI MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scan_table_dependencies: 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.
scan_table_dependencies 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 scan_table_dependencies 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 scan_table_dependencies. 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.
scan_table_dependencies 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.