How TradeGuard Actually Works
No black boxes. No hand-waving. A full technical walkthrough of how your risk rules become automated, millisecond-precise enforcement.
Three steps from setup to protection
Every detail of the TradeGuard enforcement pipeline, in plain language.
Step 01
Connect Broker Account
Direct API integration. Sync in seconds.
TradeGuard officially integrates with Tradovate and NinjaTrader. By authorizing your account, we securely sync your real-time trading metrics — PnL, open positions, and order activity — directly with our cloud-based enforcement engine.
- Officially supports both Tradovate and NinjaTrader
- Syncs live P&L and position data automatically
- Cloud-based monitoring with zero performance impact
- Safe and secure OAuth connection
Technical note: No password sharing required. TradeGuard connects directly via secure API and browser integrations to monitor your trading session in real-time.
Step 02
Set Up Risk Settings
Your rules. Your limits.
Log into the TradeGuard dashboard and define the exact risk parameters that match your trading plan. Every rule you set becomes a hard wall that the system will enforce — no exceptions, no overrides.
- Max Daily Loss — cap the total drawdown for the day
- Max Trades Per Day — limit over-trading in choppy conditions
- Time-Based Curfews — prevent trading during low-probability hours
- Changes take effect within milliseconds
Technical note: Rules are stored server-side and immediately propagated to the enforcement engine. Changes take effect within milliseconds.
Step 03
Automated Enforcement
Instant lockout. No exceptions.
The moment a rule is broken, TradeGuard locks your account into a protected, flatten-only state. We automatically close all positions and instantly cancel any orders that are placed or filled during the lockout period.
- Detects and executes within 50ms of any violation
- Auto-flattens all open positions immediately
- Automatically cancels orders if any new order is placed or filled
- Hard lockout persists until your daily session reset
Technical note: Our automated enforcement engine blocks new order submissions, ensuring that even if you attempt to place a trade, it is automatically rejected/cancelled before it can hit the market.
Common Questions
Straight answers about how TradeGuard works under the hood.
Does TradeGuard need my brokerage credentials?
No. TradeGuard connects using official integrations and secure OAuth protocols. Your brokerage username, password, or direct API keys are never stored or transmitted.
Which brokers and datafeeds are supported?
TradeGuard officially supports Tradovate and NinjaTrader. We are actively working on expanding support to TradingView and other futures datafeeds (Rithmic, CQG) in the coming months.
What happens if my internet connection drops?
Our enforcement engine runs on the cloud. Once your session is active, rules are checked and enforced independently of your local connection.
Can I still close my positions manually during a lockout?
Yes. TradeGuard only enforces a 'flatten-only' state. You are always free to close your own positions or cancel your own orders manually. TradeGuard only steps in to block you from opening new trades or adding to risk once a rule has been broken.
How fast is the flatten execution?
Trigger detection to flatten command delivery typically completes in under 50ms. Actual fill time depends on Tradovate's execution speed and market conditions.
Does it work if I have multiple broker tabs open?
Yes, our cloud integration monitors all activity across your Tradovate and NinjaTrader accounts, regardless of how many tabs or devices you have open.
Is my trading data stored anywhere?
Only the data necessary for enforcement is processed: live PnL, open positions, and order counts. This data is processed in memory and not permanently stored. See our Privacy Policy for full details.