Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions I hear most. Can’t see yours? Get in touch.
Services
What does WebControl do?
I help businesses protect and stabilise their online presence: Cloudflare onboarding, security consulting, monitoring of key services such as DNS and HTTP, a managed SIEM that watches your Cloudflare, server and website logs, and a backup WAF that keeps your website protected if Cloudflare goes down. Think of me as your external security sidekick – minus the cape.
Do you only work with Cloudflare?
Cloudflare is my specialty, but I also help with availability, DNS and wider web infrastructure issues. If your site’s acting up, I can work out why.
Do I need Cloudflare Enterprise, or will Free or Pro do?
Not necessarily. Most of what I do – onboarding, DNS, security and caching setup, monitoring and advice – works on Cloudflare’s Free, Pro and Business plans. Some advanced features, such as Cloudflare’s Bot Management, need an Enterprise plan. I’ll tell you honestly which plan fits, and I won’t push you to upgrade.
What does a managed SIEM involve?
I bring your logs together in one place – Cloudflare, your web server, WordPress, and your Linux or Windows servers – in an open-source SIEM (security information and event management system) that I run and maintain, hosted in Australia. I watch it for attacks, unusual traffic and problems in the making, and send you a weekly report. When something needs attention, I tell you what happened and what to do next. More on the managed SIEM.
Moving to Cloudflare and emergencies
Will moving to Cloudflare cause downtime or affect our email?
Done properly, no. I copy your existing DNS records across, including the ones that keep your email working (MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC), check everything before the switch, and plan the cutover for a quiet time. Most moves are invisible to your visitors.
Can you help us onboard Cloudflare in an emergency?
Yes. Urgent onboarding is one of my specialties. If you’re under attack or something’s gone haywire, I’ll get Cloudflare set up quickly and safely, working directly with your team to stabilise things and then harden your setup.
We’re under attack right now. What’s the fastest way to reach you?
Call me on +61 2 8363 3348. Don’t wait on a form or email. If I can’t answer, leave a message with your domain and what you’re seeing, and I’ll call you back. I prioritise active incidents.
Can you help after an outage or incident?
Yes. I can help you work out what happened, put fixes in place, and plan so it’s less likely – and less painful – next time. If it was a Cloudflare outage, a backup WAF means your website doesn’t have to wait it out.
What happens to my website if Cloudflare goes down?
Usually it goes down too, until Cloudflare fixes it. For many small businesses, waiting out a rare outage is a fair trade. If yours can’t wait, I offer a backup WAF: a second WAF for your website, set up ahead of time and switched on only when you need it. It’s a system I build and run myself, hosted in Australia – not a third-party product I resell. More on what happens when Cloudflare goes down.
Working with me
What access do you need to our accounts?
Only what the job needs. For Cloudflare, that’s usually an invite to your account with a limited role, never your password. I’ll tell you up front what I need and why, and you can remove my access at any time.
Do you use AI tools?
Yes, carefully. I use Claude, an AI assistant made by Anthropic, to help read through logs, draft documentation and reports, and double-check configurations. It makes me faster; it doesn’t make decisions. Every recommendation and every change to your systems is reviewed and made by me.
I never give it passwords, API keys or tokens, I remove details that identify you where I can, and I only share what the task needs. If you’d rather I didn’t use AI tools with your information at all, tell me and I won’t. I’m also testing self-hosted AI models, so more of this work can stay entirely in-house.
Do you work with our existing IT provider or developer?
Yes, and I prefer to. I work alongside your IT provider, developers or hosting company, and hand over clear notes so your team knows what changed and why.
Are you a solo operation?
For now, yes. WebControl is a boutique, founder-led business, which means personalised service, direct communication, and someone who actually remembers your setup. As WebControl grows, I’ll bring on more people without losing that personal touch.
Where are you based?
I’m based in Sydney, Australia, and work with businesses across Australia and New Zealand. All my work is done remotely, on local time.
Pricing and next steps
Do you offer one-off support or ongoing retainers?
Both. You can engage me for a single issue, or set up a retainer for regular help, reviews and peace of mind. I’ll tailor it to what your business needs.
How do you charge?
Ad hoc work is $220 an hour, and emergency work has a 4-hour minimum. After-hours work is charged at a higher rate. Bigger jobs are quoted up front, so you know the cost before I start, and retainers are quoted to fit what you need. The first 30-minute call is free. Prices are in Australian dollars, with no GST added. See Pricing for the details.
Can I get a quote?
Of course. Contact me with a few details about what you need, and I’ll get back to you quickly.
My question isn’t listed here. What should I do?
Email me at [email protected] and I’ll answer it directly – or add it to this list and pretend it’s frequently asked.