diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 13ff137..5d88da0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ on:
 
 env:
   CORTEX_API_KEY:      ${{ secrets.CORTEX_API_KEY_PRODUCTION }}
+  CORTEX_BASE_URL:     ${{ vars.CORTEX_BASE_URL }}
   DOCKER_USERNAME:     jeffschnittercortex
   DOCKER_PASSWORD:     ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
   DOCKER_ORGANIZATION: cortexapp
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container:
       image: cortexapp/cli:latest
+    env:
+      CORTEX_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.CORTEX_API_KEY_PRODUCTION }}
+      CORTEX_BASE_URL: ${{ vars.CORTEX_BASE_URL }}
     steps:
 
     - name: Post pypi deploy event to Cortex
@@ -164,6 +168,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container:
       image: cortexapp/cli:latest
+    env:
+      CORTEX_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.CORTEX_API_KEY_PRODUCTION }}
+      CORTEX_BASE_URL: ${{ vars.CORTEX_BASE_URL }}
     steps:
 
     - name: Post docker deploy event to Cortex
@@ -211,6 +218,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container:
       image: cortexapp/cli:latest
+    env:
+      CORTEX_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.CORTEX_API_KEY_PRODUCTION }}
+      CORTEX_BASE_URL: ${{ vars.CORTEX_BASE_URL }}
     steps:
 
     - name: Post homebrew deploy event to Cortex
diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index abf5dd1..0f3a9e8 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -6,6 +6,16 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 <!-- insertion marker -->
+## [1.2.0](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/releases/tag/1.2.0) - 2025-11-04
+
+<small>[Compare with 1.1.0](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/compare/1.1.0...1.2.0)</small>
+
+### Fixed
+
+- fix: handle 409 Already evaluating in trigger-evaluation test ([6715ea8](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/commit/6715ea8ace42e5e137b649daf927bf2bec225b5e) by Jeff Schnitter).
+- fix: remove entity_relationships imports from wrong branch ([3d467f6](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/commit/3d467f699a0d4883316e039fcca571bde03d7f0a) by Jeff Schnitter).
+- fix: ensure base_url defaults correctly when not set ([cadf62e](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/commit/cadf62e79c96fb6e89046d399d9247680e8057da) by Jeff Schnitter).
+
 ## [1.1.0](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/releases/tag/1.1.0) - 2025-11-04
 
 <small>[Compare with 1.0.6](https://github.com/cortexapps/cli/compare/1.0.6...1.1.0)</small>
diff --git a/cortexapps_cli/commands/backup.py b/cortexapps_cli/commands/backup.py
index fa31212..a09fdc8 100644
--- a/cortexapps_cli/commands/backup.py
+++ b/cortexapps_cli/commands/backup.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from rich.console import Console
 from enum import Enum
 import yaml
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor, as_completed
 
 import cortexapps_cli.commands.scorecards as scorecards
 import cortexapps_cli.commands.catalog as catalog
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ def _file_name(directory, tag, content, extension):
 def _write_file(content, file, is_json=False):
     with open(file, 'w') as f:
         if is_json:
-            print(content, file=f)
+            json.dump(content, f, indent=2)
         else:
             f.write(str(content) + "\n")
     f.close()
@@ -108,9 +109,27 @@ def _export_plugins(ctx, directory):
     list = plugins.list(ctx, _print=False, include_drafts="true", page=None, page_size=None)
     tags = [plugin["tag"] for plugin in list["plugins"]]
     tags_sorted = sorted(tags)
-    for tag in tags_sorted:
-        content = plugins.get(ctx, tag_or_id=tag, include_blob="true", _print=False)
-        _file_name(directory, tag, content, "json")
+
+    def fetch_plugin(tag):
+        try:
+            content = plugins.get(ctx, tag_or_id=tag, include_blob="true", _print=False)
+            return (tag, content, None)
+        except Exception as e:
+            return (tag, None, str(e))
+
+    # Fetch all plugins in parallel
+    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+        futures = {executor.submit(fetch_plugin, tag): tag for tag in tags_sorted}
+        results = []
+        for future in as_completed(futures):
+            results.append(future.result())
+
+    # Sort results alphabetically and write in order
+    for tag, content, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+        if error:
+            print(f"Failed to export plugin {tag}: {error}")
+        else:
+            _file_name(directory, tag, content, "json")
 
 def _export_scorecards(ctx, directory):
     directory = _directory_name(directory, "scorecards")
@@ -118,22 +137,44 @@ def _export_scorecards(ctx, directory):
     list = scorecards.list(ctx, show_drafts=True, page=None, page_size=None, _print=False)
     tags = [scorecard["tag"] for scorecard in list["scorecards"]]
     tags_sorted = sorted(tags)
-    for tag in tags_sorted:
-        content = scorecards.descriptor(ctx, scorecard_tag=tag, _print=False)
-        _file_name(directory, tag, content, "yaml")
+
+    def fetch_scorecard(tag):
+        try:
+            content = scorecards.descriptor(ctx, scorecard_tag=tag, _print=False)
+            return (tag, content, None)
+        except Exception as e:
+            return (tag, None, str(e))
+
+    # Fetch all scorecards in parallel
+    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+        futures = {executor.submit(fetch_scorecard, tag): tag for tag in tags_sorted}
+        results = []
+        for future in as_completed(futures):
+            results.append(future.result())
+
+    # Sort results alphabetically and write in order
+    for tag, content, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+        if error:
+            print(f"Failed to export scorecard {tag}: {error}")
+        else:
+            _file_name(directory, tag, content, "yaml")
 
 def _export_workflows(ctx, directory):
     directory = _directory_name(directory, "workflows")
 
-    list = workflows.list(ctx, _print=False, include_actions="false", page=None, page_size=None, search_query=None)
-    tags = [workflow["tag"] for workflow in list["workflows"]]
-    tags_sorted = sorted(tags)
-    for tag in tags_sorted:
+    # Get all workflows with actions in one API call
+    list = workflows.list(ctx, _print=False, include_actions="true", page=None, page_size=None, search_query=None)
+    workflows_data = sorted(list["workflows"], key=lambda x: x["tag"])
+
+    # Convert JSON workflows to YAML and write them
+    for workflow in workflows_data:
+        tag = workflow["tag"]
         try:
-            content = workflows.get(ctx, tag=tag, yaml="true", _print=False)
-            _file_name(directory, tag, content, "yaml")
-        except:
-            print("failed for " + tag)
+            # Convert the JSON workflow data to YAML format
+            workflow_yaml = yaml.dump(workflow, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False)
+            _file_name(directory, tag, workflow_yaml, "yaml")
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Failed to export workflow {tag}: {e}")
 
 backupTypes = {
         "catalog",
@@ -257,38 +298,122 @@ def _import_entity_types(ctx, force, directory):
 def _import_catalog(ctx, directory):
     if os.path.isdir(directory):
         print("Processing: " + directory)
-        for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory)):
-            file_path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
-            if os.path.isfile(file_path):
-                print("   Importing: " + filename)
-                catalog.create(ctx, file_input=open(file_path), _print=False)
+        files = [(filename, os.path.join(directory, filename))
+                 for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory))
+                 if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(directory, filename))]
+
+        def import_catalog_file(file_info):
+            filename, file_path = file_info
+            try:
+                with open(file_path) as f:
+                    catalog.create(ctx, file_input=f, _print=False)
+                return (filename, None)
+            except Exception as e:
+                return (filename, str(e))
+
+        # Import all files in parallel
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+            futures = {executor.submit(import_catalog_file, file_info): file_info[0] for file_info in files}
+            results = []
+            for future in as_completed(futures):
+                results.append(future.result())
+
+        # Print results in alphabetical order
+        for filename, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+            if error:
+                print(f"   Failed to import {filename}: {error}")
+            else:
+                print(f"   Importing: {filename}")
 
 def _import_plugins(ctx, directory):
     if os.path.isdir(directory):
         print("Processing: " + directory)
-        for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory)):
-            file_path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
-            if os.path.isfile(file_path):
-                print("   Importing: " + filename)
-                plugins.create(ctx, file_input=open(file_path), force=True)
+        files = [(filename, os.path.join(directory, filename))
+                 for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory))
+                 if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(directory, filename))]
+
+        def import_plugin_file(file_info):
+            filename, file_path = file_info
+            try:
+                with open(file_path) as f:
+                    plugins.create(ctx, file_input=f, force=True)
+                return (filename, None)
+            except Exception as e:
+                return (filename, str(e))
+
+        # Import all files in parallel
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+            futures = {executor.submit(import_plugin_file, file_info): file_info[0] for file_info in files}
+            results = []
+            for future in as_completed(futures):
+                results.append(future.result())
+
+        # Print results in alphabetical order
+        for filename, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+            if error:
+                print(f"   Failed to import {filename}: {error}")
+            else:
+                print(f"   Importing: {filename}")
 
 def _import_scorecards(ctx, directory):
     if os.path.isdir(directory):
         print("Processing: " + directory)
-        for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory)):
-            file_path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
-            if os.path.isfile(file_path):
-                print("   Importing: " + filename)
-                scorecards.create(ctx, file_input=open(file_path), dry_run=False)
+        files = [(filename, os.path.join(directory, filename))
+                 for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory))
+                 if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(directory, filename))]
+
+        def import_scorecard_file(file_info):
+            filename, file_path = file_info
+            try:
+                with open(file_path) as f:
+                    scorecards.create(ctx, file_input=f, dry_run=False)
+                return (filename, None)
+            except Exception as e:
+                return (filename, str(e))
+
+        # Import all files in parallel
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+            futures = {executor.submit(import_scorecard_file, file_info): file_info[0] for file_info in files}
+            results = []
+            for future in as_completed(futures):
+                results.append(future.result())
+
+        # Print results in alphabetical order
+        for filename, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+            if error:
+                print(f"   Failed to import {filename}: {error}")
+            else:
+                print(f"   Importing: {filename}")
 
 def _import_workflows(ctx, directory):
     if os.path.isdir(directory):
         print("Processing: " + directory)
-        for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory)):
-            file_path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
-            if os.path.isfile(file_path):
-                print("   Importing: " + filename)
-                workflows.create(ctx, file_input=open(file_path))
+        files = [(filename, os.path.join(directory, filename))
+                 for filename in sorted(os.listdir(directory))
+                 if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(directory, filename))]
+
+        def import_workflow_file(file_info):
+            filename, file_path = file_info
+            try:
+                with open(file_path) as f:
+                    workflows.create(ctx, file_input=f)
+                return (filename, None)
+            except Exception as e:
+                return (filename, str(e))
+
+        # Import all files in parallel
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=30) as executor:
+            futures = {executor.submit(import_workflow_file, file_info): file_info[0] for file_info in files}
+            results = []
+            for future in as_completed(futures):
+                results.append(future.result())
+
+        # Print results in alphabetical order
+        for filename, error in sorted(results, key=lambda x: x[0]):
+            if error:
+                print(f"   Failed to import {filename}: {error}")
+            else:
+                print(f"   Importing: {filename}")
 
 @app.command("import")
 def import_tenant(
diff --git a/cortexapps_cli/cortex_client.py b/cortexapps_cli/cortex_client.py
index b84eafe..1e35713 100644
--- a/cortexapps_cli/cortex_client.py
+++ b/cortexapps_cli/cortex_client.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import requests
+from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+from urllib3.util.retry import Retry
 import json
 import typer
 from rich import print
@@ -20,6 +22,20 @@ def __init__(self, api_key, tenant, numeric_level, base_url='https://api.getcort
         logging.basicConfig(level=numeric_level)
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+        # Create a session with connection pooling for better performance
+        self.session = requests.Session()
+
+        # Configure connection pool to support concurrent requests
+        # pool_connections: number of connection pools to cache
+        # pool_maxsize: maximum number of connections to save in the pool
+        adapter = HTTPAdapter(
+            pool_connections=10,
+            pool_maxsize=50,
+            max_retries=Retry(total=3, backoff_factor=0.3, status_forcelist=[500, 502, 503, 504])
+        )
+        self.session.mount('https://', adapter)
+        self.session.mount('http://', adapter)
+
     def request(self, method, endpoint, params={}, headers={}, data=None, raw_body=False, raw_response=False, content_type='application/json'):
         req_headers = {
             'Authorization': f'Bearer {self.api_key}',
@@ -33,7 +49,8 @@ def request(self, method, endpoint, params={}, headers={}, data=None, raw_body=F
             if content_type == 'application/json' and isinstance(data, dict):
                 req_data = json.dumps(data)
 
-        response = requests.request(method, url, params=params, headers=req_headers, data=req_data)
+        # Use session for connection pooling and reuse
+        response = self.session.request(method, url, params=params, headers=req_headers, data=req_data)
 
         self.logger.debug(f"Request Headers: {response.request.headers}")
         self.logger.debug(f"Response Status Code: {response.status_code}")
diff --git a/tests/test_scorecards.py b/tests/test_scorecards.py
index 9ec4216..801f556 100644
--- a/tests/test_scorecards.py
+++ b/tests/test_scorecards.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from tests.helpers.utils import *
 import yaml
+import time
 
 # Get rule id to be used in exemption tests.
 # TODO: check for and revoke any PENDING exemptions.
@@ -10,7 +11,18 @@ def _get_rule(title):
     return rule_id[0]
 
 def test_scorecards():
-    cli(["scorecards", "create", "-f", "data/import/scorecards/cli-test-scorecard.yaml"])
+    # Retry scorecard create in case there's an active evaluation
+    # (can happen if test_import.py just triggered an evaluation)
+    max_retries = 3
+    for attempt in range(max_retries):
+        try:
+            cli(["scorecards", "create", "-f", "data/import/scorecards/cli-test-scorecard.yaml"])
+            break
+        except Exception as e:
+            if "500" in str(e) and attempt < max_retries - 1:
+                time.sleep(2 ** attempt)  # Exponential backoff: 1s, 2s
+                continue
+            raise
 
     response = cli(["scorecards", "list"])
     assert any(scorecard['tag'] == 'cli-test-scorecard' for scorecard in response['scorecards']), "Should find scorecard with tag cli-test-scorecard"
@@ -43,7 +55,17 @@ def test_scorecards():
 #    cli(["scorecards", "scores", "-t", "cli-test-scorecard"])
  
 def test_scorecards_drafts():
-    cli(["scorecards", "create", "-f", "data/import/scorecards/cli-test-draft-scorecard.yaml"])
+    # Retry scorecard create in case there's an active evaluation
+    max_retries = 3
+    for attempt in range(max_retries):
+        try:
+            cli(["scorecards", "create", "-f", "data/import/scorecards/cli-test-draft-scorecard.yaml"])
+            break
+        except Exception as e:
+            if "500" in str(e) and attempt < max_retries - 1:
+                time.sleep(2 ** attempt)  # Exponential backoff: 1s, 2s
+                continue
+            raise
 
     response = cli(["scorecards", "list", "-s"])
     assert any(scorecard['tag'] == 'cli-test-draft-scorecard' for scorecard in response['scorecards'])