Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started

Do I need to install anything to monitor my servers?

For server metrics (CPU, RAM, disk, etc.) you need to install the lightweight SecureCheap agent. For uptime monitoring (HTTP checks, SSL, DNS) no installation is required — just add the URL.

Does the agent require root access?

No. The agent reads from /proc and /sys as an unprivileged user. Root is only needed to install and configure the service (via the install script).

How quickly will I see my server metrics?

Data appears in the dashboard within 60 seconds of agent installation.

Monitoring

From how many locations are my sites checked?

Free: 1 location. Pro and Enterprise: 3 locations simultaneously (Frankfurt, New York, Singapore). A monitor is only marked DOWN when all locations agree — preventing false positives.

What's the minimum check interval?

Free: 5 minutes. Pro: 1 minute. Enterprise: 30 seconds.

Can I monitor private/internal URLs?

Not with HTTP monitors (they check from our probe locations). For internal services, install the agent and use custom metric checks, or use our webhooks to push status from inside your network.

How does SSL grading work?

We use the same methodology as Qualys SSL Labs: TLS version, cipher strength, certificate chain, HSTS, OCSP stapling, and known vulnerabilities. Grade A+ requires TLS 1.3 only with HSTS.

Security

Do you store our server passwords or SSH keys?

No. The agent authenticates with a unique token (not a password). No SSH access is needed.

Can SecureCheap modify anything on my servers?

No. The agent is read-only. It cannot execute commands, modify files, or change any server configuration.

What cloud permissions do you need?

Read-only API access only. We never need write permissions to your cloud provider. Specific permissions are listed in each integration guide.

How are my integration credentials stored?

All credentials are encrypted with AES-256-GCM before being stored. They cannot be retrieved via the API after initial setup — they're write-only.

Billing

What happens if I exceed my plan limits?

We'll notify you when you're at 80% of your limit. We don't cut off monitoring — we give you 14 days to upgrade before reducing check frequency on excess monitors.

Can I change plans at any time?

Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately (prorated). Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle.

Do you offer annual billing discounts?

Yes — pay annually and get 2 months free (equivalent to ~17% off).

Is there a free trial of Pro?

Yes — 14-day Pro trial, no credit card required.

Technical

What Linux distributions does the agent support?

Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 9+, CentOS 7+, RHEL 7+, Fedora 30+, Amazon Linux 2+, Alpine Linux 3.12+.

Does the agent support Windows or macOS?

Not currently. Windows and macOS agent support is on our roadmap for 2025.

What's the agent's resource footprint?

< 0.5% CPU average, ~25 MB RAM, ~500 KB/day network outbound. Designed to be invisible.

Can the agent work behind a proxy?

Yes. Set HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy:port in the agent's environment or config file.