# Understanding the Dashboard

## What This Covers

This guide explains the Steel Security dashboard and how to interpret the information it provides.

The dashboard gives you a high-level view of your site's security posture and helps you prioritize next steps.

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## What the Dashboard Shows

The dashboard provides a summary of your site’s current security state.

It is designed to answer three key questions:

- What risks exist on this site?  
- How severe are those risks?  
- What should I do next?  

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## Key Sections

### Scan Summary

The Scan Summary reflects the results of your most recent scan.

It includes:

- total findings detected  
- breakdown by severity (if applicable)  
- overall **Scan Risk Score**  

This gives you a quick understanding of your current risk level.

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### Scan Risk Score

The Scan Risk Score represents the overall risk level of your site based on detected findings.

- Higher scores indicate greater risk  
- Lower scores indicate a more secure configuration  

The score is intended as a **guideline**, not a perfect measurement.

Focus on the underlying findings rather than the number alone.

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### Recent Findings

This section highlights the most relevant issues detected during the last scan.

Each finding includes:

- a description of the issue  
- why it matters  
- recommended next steps  

Use this section to quickly identify what needs attention.

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### Hardening Overview

The dashboard also summarizes available hardening opportunities.

This may include:

- protections that can be applied  
- current hardening status  
- areas where improvements can be made  

Hardening actions are optional and should be applied thoughtfully.

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## How to Use the Dashboard

A typical workflow:

1. Review your Scan Risk Score  
2. Identify high-risk findings  
3. Open the Scan page for detailed results  
4. Apply hardening where appropriate  
5. Re-scan to confirm improvements  

The dashboard helps you decide where to focus, not perform the work itself.

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## What the Dashboard Does Not Do

The dashboard does not:

- run scans automatically  
- make changes to your site  
- apply hardening actions  

It is a **summary and navigation layer**, not an action layer.

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## When to Check the Dashboard

Use the dashboard:

- after running a scan  
- after applying hardening  
- after updates, migrations, or restores  
- as part of routine maintenance  

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## Common Questions

### Why does the dashboard not update automatically?

The dashboard reflects the most recent scan results.

To refresh the data, return to the **Scan** page to trigger a new scan.

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### What should I focus on first?

Start with:

- high-risk findings  
- exposed files  
- configuration issues  

These typically represent the most immediate concerns.

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### Is a low score “secure”?

A low score indicates fewer detected risks, but no system is ever completely risk-free.

Use the score as a guide, not a guarantee.

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## Tips

- Use the dashboard to prioritize, not diagnose  
- Always review the full Scan results before making changes  
- Apply hardening incrementally and verify results  

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## What to Do Next

After reviewing the dashboard:

1. Open the Scan page for detailed findings  
2. Review individual issues  
3. Begin applying hardening controls  

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## Related

- [Running Your First Scan](https://docs.steelwp.com/books/getting-started/page/running-your-first-scan)
- [Scan Risk Score Explained](https://docs.steelsecurity.com/books/plugin-guide/page/scan-risk-score-explained)
- [Applying Hardening Safely](https://docs.steelwp.com/books/getting-started/page/applying-hardening-safely)