Documentation

Quick Start

Get up and running with Sonar in under 2 minutes. Follow these simple steps to start monitoring your AWS and OpenAI costs in real-time.

Step 1: Sign Up

Create your account at getsonar.dev. No credit card required.

Step 2: Connect AWS

Navigate to Settings → API Keys and add your AWS credentials. We'll guide you through the IAM setup.

⚡ Setup takes less than 2 minutes. We only need read-only permissions.

Step 3: Connect OpenAI (Optional)

Add your OpenAI API key in Settings → API Keys to track AI usage and costs.

You're all set!

Your dashboard will start showing real-time cost data within seconds. No configuration needed.

Connecting AWS

Connect your AWS account to start monitoring costs in real-time. Sonar uses read-only permissions, so your infrastructure remains secure.

Prerequisites

An AWS account with billing enabled
Access to create IAM users/roles (or ask your AWS admin)
Your AWS Access Key ID and Secret Access Key

Connection Steps

Navigate to Settings
Go to Dashboard → Settings → API Keys tab
Click "Connect AWS Account"
This opens the AWS connection wizard
Follow the IAM Setup
We'll show you exactly which permissions to grant
Enter Your Credentials
Add your AWS Access Key ID and Secret Access Key
Start Monitoring
Your dashboard will update automatically within seconds

⚠️ Security Note

Sonar only requests read-only permissions. We never modify, create, or delete any AWS resources. Your credentials are encrypted and stored securely.

IAM Setup

Sonar needs specific IAM permissions to read cost and usage data. Here's the exact policy you need.

Required IAM Policy

Create a new IAM user or attach this policy to an existing user. Then generate Access Keys for that user.

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "ce:GetCostAndUsage",
        "ce:GetDimensionValues",
        "ce:GetUsageReport",
        "cloudwatch:GetMetricStatistics",
        "cloudwatch:ListMetrics"
      ],
      "Resource": "*"
    }
  ]
}

Step-by-Step IAM Setup

1. Create IAM User

Go to AWS Console → IAM → Users
Click "Create user"
Name it "sonar-monitoring" (or any name you prefer)
Click "Next" without selecting any policies yet

2. Attach Policy

Click "Add permissions" → "Create inline policy"
Switch to JSON tab
Paste the policy above
Name it "SonarReadOnly" and save

3. Generate Access Keys

Go to the "Security credentials" tab
Click "Create access key"
Select "Application running outside AWS"
Copy both Access Key ID and Secret Access Key
⚠️ Save these immediately - you won't see the secret again!

✅ Quick Test

After adding credentials in Sonar, check your dashboard. If you see cost data, everything is working correctly!

OpenAI Setup

Connect your OpenAI account to track API usage, token consumption, and model costs in real-time.

Getting Your API Key

Go to OpenAI Platform → API Keys
Click "Create new secret key"
Give it a name (e.g., "Sonar Monitoring")
Copy the key immediately - you won't see it again

Adding to Sonar

Navigate to Settings
Dashboard → Settings → API Keys tab
Paste Your API Key
Enter the key in the "OpenAI API Key" field
Save
Click "Save API Keys" - we'll start tracking immediately

What We Track

API calls per endpoint and model
Token usage (prompt + completion)
Cost per request and model
Usage trends and anomalies

🔒 Security

Your API key is encrypted at rest and only used to read usage data. We never make API calls on your behalf.

Creating Alerts

Set up alerts to get notified when costs spike, anomalies are detected, or budgets are exceeded. Never be surprised by your cloud bill again.

Setting Up Your First Alert

Go to Settings
Dashboard → Settings → Alerts & Notifications section
Click "Create Alert"
Choose from AWS Cost Spike, AI Usage Anomaly, or Budget Warning
Set Your Threshold
Enter the amount (e.g., $500) that triggers the alert
Configure Cooldown
Set how often you want to be notified (e.g., once per hour)
Choose Notification Channel
Email notifications are enabled by default. Slack integration coming soon.

Alert Types

AWS Cost Spike

Triggers when your daily AWS spend exceeds the threshold. Perfect for catching runaway instances or unexpected usage.

AI Usage Anomaly

Detects unusual patterns in OpenAI API usage (e.g., 10x increase in calls). Helps identify bugs or inefficient code.

Budget Warning

Warns when you're approaching your monthly budget limit (e.g., 80% of $10K). Prevents overspending.

💡 Best Practices

Start with a higher threshold and adjust based on your actual usage
Set cooldowns to avoid alert fatigue (1-4 hours recommended)
Create separate alerts for different environments (prod vs staging)
Review alert history regularly to fine-tune thresholds

Data Privacy

Your data security and privacy are our top priorities. Here's how we handle your information.

What We Store

Cost data: Aggregated spending metrics from AWS Cost Explorer and CloudWatch
Usage data: API call counts, token usage, and model information from OpenAI
Credentials: Encrypted AWS keys and OpenAI API keys (AES-256 encryption)
User data: Email, name, and subscription information

What We Never Store

Raw AWS resource names or identifiers
OpenAI prompt or completion content
Personal data beyond what's necessary for the service
Payment card details (handled by Stripe)

Security Measures

Encryption at rest: All data encrypted with AES-256
Encryption in transit: TLS 1.3 for all connections
Access control: Row-level security (RLS) in Supabase
Read-only permissions: AWS credentials only have read access
Regular audits: Security reviews and penetration testing

Your Rights

Under GDPR and CCPA, you have the right to:

Access your personal data
Request deletion of your data
Export your data in a portable format
Opt out of data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@getsonar.dev

🔒 Data Retention

Cost and usage data is retained for 30 days on Pro plans and 90 days on Scale plans. You can request immediate deletion at any time.

For more details, see our Privacy Policy.