# switch_instance

Switch the active ServiceNow instance for this session

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `switch_instance`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/switch-instance

## Facts

- Tool: `switch_instance`
- Server: ServiceNow-MCP (`tedorigawa001/servicenow-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/tedorigawa001/ServiceNow-MCP
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "switch_instance",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why switch_instance is rated Medium

This tool modifies the active context (instance) for the current session, which is a reversible state change but not a destructive operation or query. It's categorized as Write because it alters session configuration. Severity is medium because switching instances could cause subsequent operations to target an unintended environment (e.g., production vs. staging), potentially leading to unintended data modifications.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'switch_instance' and description 'Switch the active ServiceNow instance for this session' indicate a modification of session state that affects subsequent operations."

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches ServiceNow-MCP:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "switch_instance": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "switch_instance_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on ServiceNow-MCP (494)

- `cancel_request` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/cancel-request.md
- `delete_attachment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-attachment.md
- `delete_system_property` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-system-property.md
- `delete_uib_page` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-uib-page.md
- `remove_user_from_group` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/remove-user-from-group.md
- `restore_archived_record` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/restore-archived-record.md
- `rollback_deployment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/rollback-deployment.md
- `set_cleanup_rule_active` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/set-cleanup-rule-active.md
- `set_destroy_rule_active` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/set-destroy-rule-active.md
- `commit_changeset` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/commit-changeset.md
- `create_business_rule` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-business-rule.md
- `create_client_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-client-script.md
- `create_flow_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-flow-action.md
- `create_scheduled_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-scheduled-job.md
- `create_script_include` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-script-include.md
- `execute_background_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/execute-background-script.md
- `fire_event` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/fire-event.md
- `ml_detect_anomalies` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-detect-anomalies.md
- `ml_train_anomaly_detector` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-anomaly-detector.md
- `ml_train_change_risk` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-change-risk.md
- `ml_train_incident_classifier` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-incident-classifier.md
- `publish_changeset` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/publish-changeset.md
- `run_aggregate_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-aggregate-query.md
- `run_atf_suite` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-atf-suite.md
- `run_atf_test` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-atf-test.md
- `run_discovery_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-discovery-scan.md
- `run_security_playbook` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-security-playbook.md
- `run_transform_map` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-transform-map.md
- `scan_vulnerabilities` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/scan-vulnerabilities.md
- `smart_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/smart-query.md
- …and 464 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp