Multisite Network Setup Planner

I am an educator/trainer looking to create a WordPress Multisite network for [specific purpose, e.g., online courses, student blogs, departmental websites]. My primary goals for this network are [list key goals, e.g., centralized management, user isolation, branding control]. The target audience includes [describe the users, e.g., students, faculty, external partners]. Outline a detailed setup plan, including steps for: 1. Choosing the right Multisite configuration (subdomains vs. subdirectories). 2. Selecting essential plugins for network management, user roles, and content control. 3. Designing a default theme and templates to maintain consistent branding across all sites. 4. Implementing a user registration and management system. 5. Defining clear guidelines and policies for site creation and content publishing. 6. Creating content template for all users. Consider potential challenges such as plugin compatibility, security, and performance optimization. What are the best practices to avoid those issues?

Based on the setup plan created in the previous prompt, provide specific recommendations for: 1. Network security: How to harden the Multisite installation against common threats. 2. Performance optimization: Strategies for ensuring fast loading times and scalability. 3. Content moderation: Tools and techniques for monitoring and managing user-generated content. 4. Backup and disaster recovery: A comprehensive plan for protecting the network's data. Give me a step by step guide and useful tools or plugins for each aspect. Be specific with the plugins or tools. Include examples. Also, explain how to test that the setup is working properly and is ready for production. What actions should I take to deploy to production?

Now, let's focus on user training and documentation for the WordPress Multisite network. Create a comprehensive guide for users on how to create and manage their individual sites within the network. This guide should cover topics such as: 1. Logging in and accessing the site dashboard. 2. Choosing a site name and URL. 3. Selecting a theme and customizing its appearance. 4. Creating and publishing content (pages, posts, media). 5. Managing users and permissions for their own site. 6. Installing plugins (if allowed by the network administrator). Additionally, develop a set of FAQs to address common questions and issues that users might encounter. Focus the guide for users with low tech skills, so that they can set up a site, and maintain it up and running.