Documentation

System Requirements

Before installing Sentinel, ensure your WordPress site meets these requirements:

• WordPress: Version 5.0 or higher
• PHP: Version 7.4 or higher
• MySQL: Version 5.6 or higher
• Memory: Minimum 64MB PHP memory limit

Method 1: WordPress Repository (Coming Soon)

Once approved on WordPress.org, you'll be able to install directly from your admin dashboard.

Navigate to Plugins → Add New → Search for 'Sentinel' → Install & Activate

Method 2: Manual Installation

Download and install the plugin manually for immediate access.

1. Download the plugin ZIP file from our download page
2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
3. Choose the downloaded file and click Install Now
4. Activate the plugin after installation

Post-Installation Checklist

After installing Sentinel, complete these essential steps:

1. Access the Dashboard

After activation, navigate to Sentinel in your WordPress admin sidebar. You'll see a comprehensive dashboard with real-time activity monitoring.

2. Review Event Settings

Visit Sentinel → Event Registry to customize which events to track. This is where you can enable or disable specific monitoring features based on your security needs.

• User logins/logouts
• Content creation/editing  
• Plugin/theme changes
• Failed login attempts
• Admin actions
• File modifications
• Database changes
• Security events

3. Configure Alerts

Set up email notifications for critical security events. Go to Sentinel → Settings → Notifications Tab → Compliance & Monitoring to have sentinel send you an email when a critical security event occurs.

4. Test the System

Perform some test actions on your site to verify that Sentinel is properly logging events:

• Log out and log back in
• Create or edit a post
• Change a setting in your admin panel
• Check the activity log to see these events recorded

Pro Tips for New Users

Basic Configuration

Access general settings via Sentinel → Settings → Log Management Tab → Log Management & Retention. These settings control the fundamental behavior of the monitoring system.

Advanced Configuration Options

Fine-tune Sentinel's behavior with these advanced settings. These options provide more granular control over the monitoring system's behavior and performance.

Available Event Types

Sentinel tracks and logs a comprehensive range of events that range from PHP errors to WordPress core events. Below is a list of some of what Sentinel tracks. This is not a comprehensive list as most events are self-explanatory.

Batch Logging Configuration

Control how Sentinel processes and stores log entries to balance performance with real-time visibility.

Rate Limiting & Spam Prevention

Protect your site from log spam and potential abuse while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.

Smart Memory Monitoring

Prevent memory-related crashes and optimize resource usage with intelligent memory management.

Performance Optimization by Site Type

Recommended configurations for different types of WordPress sites:

Monitoring Performance Impact

Use Sentinel's built-in performance monitoring to ensure optimal operation:

IP Anonymization

Sentinel's intelligent anonymization system masks personally identifiable data in security logs while preserving analytical value for security monitoring and traffic analysis.

Overview

The data deletion request feature allows users to request the removal of their personal data from Sentinel's logs and databases, helping you comply with GDPR Article 17 (Right to Erasure).

Implementation

Add the shortcode to any page where users can request data deletion:

// Add to your privacy policy page or dedicated deletion request page
[sentinel_data_deletion_request]

// Customize the deletion request form
add_filter('sentinel_data_deletion_form', function($form_html, $user_id) {
    // Customize form appearance or add additional fields
    return $form_html;
}, 10, 2);

// Handle pre-deletion actions
add_action('sentinel_before_data_deletion', function($user_id) {
    // Perform any necessary actions before data deletion
    // e.g., notify administrators, log the request
});

// Handle post-deletion actions
add_action('sentinel_after_data_deletion', function($user_id) {
    // Perform any necessary actions after data deletion
    // e.g., send confirmation email, update external systems
});

What Gets Deleted

When a user requests data deletion, Sentinel will remove the following data:

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines when implementing data deletion requests:

Notification Types

Sentinel offers three types of notifications:

• Real-time Alerts: Instant email notifications for critical security events
• Daily Digests: Comprehensive daily summaries of site activity and errors
• Weekly Reports: Detailed analytics including health reports and security trends

Setting Up Real-time Alerts

Configure instant notifications for critical events. Navigate to Sentinel → Settings → Notifications to access these settings.

Alert Types & Triggers

Choose which events trigger immediate notifications:

Fine-tuning Options

Additional filters to control when alerts are sent:

• Category Filters: Select specific event categories (Authentication, Content, System, Error, Security)
• Priority Filters: Choose priority levels (High, Medium, Low)
• Per-event Control: Disable individual events in Sentinel → Event Registry (affects both logging and alerts)

Email Recipients

Configure who receives alert notifications in Sentinel → Settings → Notifications.

Daily Digest Reports

Aggregated reports sent daily at ~9:00 AM site time via WP-Cron:

Weekly Digest Reports

Comprehensive weekly reports sent on Mondays at ~9:00 AM site time:

Recommended Starter Configuration

Production-ready configuration for development and production environments:

Data Export

Pull activity records into different formats for review, reporting or regulatory compliance. Whether you're analysing patterns or preparing audits, there's a format to suit your needs.

Supported Formats

• CSV: Great for spreadsheet programs such as Excel or Google Sheets
• JSON: Ideal when connecting to external systems or APIs
• XML: Provides compatibility with older or legacy applications

Role-Based Permissions

Control access to Sentinel features based on user roles:

Troubleshooting FAQs

Common issues and their solutions.