Notch Content Intelligence was built so its core audit can run inside WordPress without sending your site content to a TopNotch cloud service. Search Console is the main optional external connection in the current 0.4.x release, and when you use it, NCI communicates directly with Google.
What the local audit stores
NCI creates local working data for its content audit, keyword imports and analysis. That allows the plugin to compare the site’s own pages, topics, internal links and imported research without depending on a hosted TopNotch account.
The audit can inspect published content and, when selected for review, non-public editorial content such as drafts, scheduled items, pending content and private pages. That information remains part of the WordPress-side analysis; NCI 0.4.x does not send the local content corpus to a TopNotch proxy.
What happens when Search Console is not connected
If you never configure Google Search Console, NCI’s local site audit, keyword imports, topic clustering, decision labels and internal-link workflows still operate. There is no requirement to create a Google connection just to use the plugin.
What NCI stores for Google Search Console
If you choose to connect Search Console, you provide a Google OAuth Client ID and Client Secret. NCI stores those values in WordPress options. After successful authorization, the refresh token is also stored locally so the integration can request new short-lived access tokens when needed. Access tokens are kept transiently rather than treated as permanent credentials.
The selected Search Console property, recent sync range and sync state are also stored in WordPress so the plugin knows which data set it is working with.
What is sent to Google
When you configure or use Search Console integration, NCI makes intentional requests to Google’s OAuth and Search Console endpoints. These requests are needed to authorize the connection, discover properties and retrieve read-only Search Analytics data.
The permission requested is https://www.googleapis.com/auth/webmasters.readonly. NCI does not request a Search Console write scope.
For the setup steps and official Google documentation, see Connect Google Search Console to NCI.
What Search Console data is stored
Synced query-plus-page rows can include clicks, impressions, CTR and average position. NCI stores the imported analysis locally so it can use those metrics alongside site-coverage and opportunity signals.
That data should still be treated with the same care you would give other analytics information. Limit administrator access, keep WordPress and its plugins updated, and avoid sharing database exports casually.
What Disconnect removes
Using NCI’s Search Console disconnect flow removes the active access-token state, refresh token, selected property and recent sync/range settings used by the connection.
In the current release, Disconnect does not automatically delete the saved Client ID and Client Secret. They remain available for a later reconnect. If your goal is to retire the Google client completely, clear the credentials in NCI and revoke or remove the corresponding client in Google Cloud as appropriate.
What Reset Local Audit Data does
A local NCI reset clears the plugin’s working audit data. It does not delete WordPress posts or pages, rewrite your content, change URLs, remove SEO metadata or alter redirects. The distinction matters: resetting the analysis is not the same thing as resetting the site.
What happens when the plugin is uninstalled
NCI preserves its audit data by default so an accidental uninstall does not automatically destroy the working data set. If you enable the plugin’s Delete data on uninstall option before uninstalling, NCI removes its own tables and options, including stored Search Console credentials.
Choose that option when you are deliberately retiring the plugin and no longer need its local records. If the site is business-critical, take an appropriate backup before removing software or data.
Support without exposing secrets
Never send a Google Client Secret, refresh token, WordPress password, hosting password or database credential in a support request. Most NCI problems can be investigated with the plugin version, WordPress/PHP versions, the affected screen, the exact error message and steps to reproduce it.
If a credential has already been exposed, changing a support message does not make the old credential safe. Rotate or revoke it at the provider.
TopNotch website privacy and plugin privacy are separate
The privacy policy on TopNotchAgency.us describes data handled when someone visits or contacts TopNotch through this website. NCI installed on your WordPress site is a separate software context. In 0.4.x, the core audit runs locally and the optional Search Console connection communicates directly with Google.
Return to the NCI Documentation hub, or see Support if you need help with a privacy-related configuration question.