diff --git a/backend/api/server_fastapi_router.py b/backend/api/server_fastapi_router.py
index 417a6cc..42aef2d 100644
--- a/backend/api/server_fastapi_router.py
+++ b/backend/api/server_fastapi_router.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class ServerFastAPIRouter:
     def __init__(
         self,
         server_instance,
-        is_internal_env: bool,
+        is_file_change_enabled: bool,
         environment: str = "dev",
         processing_service_cls=None
     ):
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ def __init__(
 
         Args:
             server_instance: The Modal server instance for accessing connectors and spawning local methods
-            is_internal_env: Whether this is an internal (dev/staging) environment
+            is_file_change_enabled: Whether this file change is enabled in this environment
             environment: Environment name (dev, staging, prod) for cross-app lookups
             processing_service_cls: Optional ProcessingService class for dev combined mode (direct access)
         """
         self.server_instance = server_instance
-        self.is_internal_env = is_internal_env
+        self.is_file_change_enabled = is_file_change_enabled
         self.environment = environment
         self.processing_service_cls = processing_service_cls
         self.router = APIRouter()
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ async def delete_video(self, hashed_identifier: str, filename: str, namespace: s
                 - 403 Forbidden if deletion is not allowed.
         """
         logger.info(f"[Delete Video] Request to delete video: {filename} ({hashed_identifier}) | namespace='{namespace}'")
-        if not self.is_internal_env:
+        if not self.is_file_change_enabled:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Video deletion is not allowed in the current environment.")
 
         job_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ async def clear_cache(self, namespace: str = "__default__"):
             HTTPException: If cache clearing is not allowed (403 Forbidden)
         """
         logger.info(f"[Clear Cache] Request to clear cache for namespace: {namespace}")
-        if not self.is_internal_env:
+        if not self.is_file_change_enabled:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Cache clearing is not allowed in the current environment.")
         
         try:
diff --git a/backend/services/http_server.py b/backend/services/http_server.py
index 595462b..a940221 100644
--- a/backend/services/http_server.py
+++ b/backend/services/http_server.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def _initialize_connectors(self):
         R2_ACCOUNT_ID = get_env_var("R2_ACCOUNT_ID")
         R2_ACCESS_KEY_ID = get_env_var("R2_ACCESS_KEY_ID")
         R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY = get_env_var("R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY")
+        IS_FILE_CHANGE_ENABLED = get_env_var("IS_FILE_CHANGE_ENABLED").lower() == "true"
 
         pinecone_index = get_pinecone_index()
         logger.info(f"[{self.__class__.__name__}] Using Pinecone index: {pinecone_index}")
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ def _initialize_connectors(self):
 
         # Store config for router
         self.env = env
-        self.is_internal = env in ["dev", "staging"]
+        self.is_file_change_enabled = IS_FILE_CHANGE_ENABLED
 
         logger.info(f"[{self.__class__.__name__}] Initialized and ready!")
 
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ def create_fastapi_app(self, processing_service_cls=None):
         self.fastapi_app = FastAPI(title="Clipabit Server")
         api_router = ServerFastAPIRouter(
             server_instance=self,
-            is_internal_env=self.is_internal,
+            is_file_change_enabled=self.is_file_change_enabled,
             environment=self.env,
             processing_service_cls=processing_service_cls
         )
diff --git a/backend/shared/config.py b/backend/shared/config.py
index 06fc008..3e83537 100644
--- a/backend/shared/config.py
+++ b/backend/shared/config.py
@@ -83,17 +83,6 @@ def get_secrets() -> modal.Secret:
     return modal.Secret.from_name(env)
 
 
-def is_internal_env() -> bool:
-    """
-    Check if running in an internal (non-production) environment.
-    
-    Returns:
-        bool: True if dev or staging, False if prod
-    """
-    env = get_environment()
-    return env in ["dev", "staging"]
-
-
 def get_pinecone_index() -> str:
     """
     Get the Pinecone index name for the current environment.
diff --git a/backend/tests/integration/test_api_endpoints.py b/backend/tests/integration/test_api_endpoints.py
index 8f7e208..8e03057 100644
--- a/backend/tests/integration/test_api_endpoints.py
+++ b/backend/tests/integration/test_api_endpoints.py
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ def lookup_side_effect(app_name: str, class_name: str, **kwargs):
 @pytest.fixture()
 def test_client_internal(mock_modal_lookup) -> Tuple[TestClient, ServerStub, dict]:
     """
-    FastAPI TestClient with is_internal_env=True, so delete is allowed.
+    FastAPI TestClient with is_file_change_enabled=True, so delete is allowed.
     """
     server = ServerStub()
     app = FastAPI()
-    router = ServerFastAPIRouter(server, is_internal_env=True, environment="dev")
+    router = ServerFastAPIRouter(server, is_file_change_enabled=True, environment="dev")
     app.include_router(router.router)
     return TestClient(app), server, mock_modal_lookup
 
@@ -197,11 +197,11 @@ def test_client_internal(mock_modal_lookup) -> Tuple[TestClient, ServerStub, dic
 @pytest.fixture()
 def test_client_external(mock_modal_lookup) -> Tuple[TestClient, ServerStub, dict]:
     """
-    FastAPI TestClient with is_internal_env=False, so delete is forbidden.
+    FastAPI TestClient with is_file_change_enabled=False, so delete is forbidden.
     """
     server = ServerStub()
     app = FastAPI()
-    router = ServerFastAPIRouter(server, is_internal_env=False, environment="prod")
+    router = ServerFastAPIRouter(server, is_file_change_enabled=False, environment="prod")
     app.include_router(router.router)
     return TestClient(app), server, mock_modal_lookup