---
title: "Security Ninja for MainWP: fleet security from one dashboard"
canonical: https://wpsecurityninja.com/mainwp/
---
If you already manage sites with [MainWP](https://mainwp.com/), Security Ninja can surface security status from those child sites inside your MainWP Dashboard. You still install Security Ninja on each site. The MainWP addon sits only on the Dashboard and pulls results after you sync.

This is for people who run many WordPress installs and do not want to open every `wp-admin` to see scores, known [vulnerabilities](https://wpsecurityninja.com/dictionary/vulnerability/), or recent security events.

## What installs where

| Location | What to install |
| --- | --- |
| MainWP Dashboard site | MainWP Dashboard, Security Ninja, and the Security Ninja for MainWP addon |
| Each child site | Security Ninja only (free or Pro). Do **not** install the MainWP addon on children |

Child sites already include the MainWP integration code inside Security Ninja. The addon on the Dashboard reads that data after sync. If the overview is empty or Sync stays grey, you usually have no connected children yet, or Security Ninja is missing on those sites.

Setup paths:

- [Get started with MainWP](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/get-started-mainwp/)
- [Premium install guide](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/install-security-ninja-mainwp/)
- [Free wordpress.org extension install](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/install-the-mainwp-extension-for-security-ninja/)

## Free vs premium addon

The free addon is on [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/security-ninja-for-mainwp/). It works with free or Pro Security Ninja on child sites. Data shown matches what each site’s version can provide.

| Capability | Free addon | Premium addon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| View Security Ninja test results per site | Yes | Yes |
| See known vulnerabilities | Yes | Yes |
| Trigger remote security scans | Yes | Yes |
| Sync / pull fresh results | Yes | Yes |
| Combined [event logging](https://wpsecurityninja.com/dictionary/event-logging/) across sites | No | Yes (needs events on the child; Pro) |
| Daily fleet email digest | No | Yes |
| Score and vulnerability history for `month.summary` | No | Yes |
| Remote white label on/off | No | Yes (Pro children) |

Premium customers should use the zip from their [account](https://wpsecurityninja.com/account/), not the free wordpress.org build. The free plugin does not include premium code. Agency packs often include MainWP addon value; see [agencies](https://wpsecurityninja.com/agencies/) and the [MainWP integration](https://wpsecurityninja.com/mainwp-integration/) page.

## What you see after sync

![MainWP Sites table with the Security Ninja quickview column](https://wpsecurityninja.com/media/2026/08/mainwp/mainwp-sites-security-column.png)

Useful day-to-day pieces:

- A **Security Ninja** column on the MainWP Sites table ([show or hide it](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/how-to-show-hide-the-column/))
- Remote start of security tests ([bulk actions](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/bulk-actions-in-mainwp/))
- Vulnerability views so outdated or risky plugins stand out before you update
- With premium: a [global event log](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/the-global-event-log/) you can search across connected sites
- With premium: [fleet email alerts](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/fleet-email-alerts/) from the Dashboard Settings tab
- With premium: daily metrics history for the `[securityninja.month.summary]` client report token
- With premium: [remote white label control](https://wpsecurityninja.com/docs/mainwp/how-to-control-white-label-settings-remotely/) on Pro installs

![Selected MainWP sites with Security Ninja bulk actions open](https://wpsecurityninja.com/media/2026/08/mainwp/mainwp-bulk-actions-menu.png)

![Security Ninja Events tab in MainWP](https://wpsecurityninja.com/media/2026/08/mainwp/mainwp-events-tab.png)

## Honest limits

MainWP plus Security Ninja improves visibility and response time. It does not:

- Replace hardening on each child ([hardening guide](https://wpsecurityninja.com/wordpress-security-hardening-guide/))
- Make shared hosting safe by itself
- Fix abandoned plugins without you updating or removing them
- Turn free Security Ninja into Pro features on a child site

Keep the Dashboard site locked down the same way you would any high-value admin: MFA, unique passwords, [least privilege](https://wpsecurityninja.com/dictionary/least-privilege/), and tested backups. Broader fleet habits: [WordPress security checklist](https://wpsecurityninja.com/wordpress-security-checklist/) and the [security guide hub](https://wpsecurityninja.com/wordpress-security-guide/).

For a wider look at MainWP itself (updates, backups, extensions), see [MainWP for managing multiple WordPress sites](https://wpsecurityninja.com/mainwp-management-tool/).

## Next steps

1. Connect child sites in MainWP and install Security Ninja on each
2. Install the matching free or premium addon on the Dashboard only
3. Sync, then use the Sites column and remote scans as part of your weekly maintenance
4. Vote or suggest ideas on the [roadmap](https://wpsecurityninja.com/roadmap/) if you need something the addon does not do yet