What Should I Know Before Using JitBackup?
JitBackup runs on a computer or server managed by your organization. You use its management console in a browser. If your company has already installed it, ask the person responsible for backups for the console address and a JitBackup login account.
Do I Need to Install Anything on My Computer?
You do not need a separate backup agent on every employee's computer. JitBackup connects to the selected Google Workspace accounts from the backup server.
Your work computer only needs access to the console to browse or recover backups. The server running JitBackup must stay powered on, awake, and connected to Google and the configured backup storage. Closing your browser does not stop a server backup. Shutting down the computer that runs JitBackup does.
What Can Be Backed Up?
JitBackup supports Gmail, Drive, Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Shared Drives in Google Workspace. Your administrator chooses which users, apps, and Shared Drives to protect. Installing the software does not prove that every account is being backed up.
This setup is for an organization's Google Workspace domain. A personal @gmail.com account cannot complete the Workspace domain authorization process. Shared Drives require an active, activated paid license and are unavailable during trial.
JitBackup protects data it has successfully collected. It cannot recover an item that was deleted before it was backed up, or a version that was never captured. See Find missing backup data.
Who Needs to Help with Setup?
| Person | What they provide |
|---|---|
| Company IT or server administrator | Installs JitBackup, prepares storage, keeps the server running, and provides a reachable console address |
| Google Workspace super administrator | Authorizes the service account to access the company's Workspace data |
| JitBackup System Administrator | Creates console accounts and configures system email settings |
| JitBackup Domain Administrator | Selects protected users and apps, schedules backups, and manages retention for assigned domains |
| Authorized recovery operator | Finds, restores, or exports backed-up data within their assigned domains |
These roles can belong to the same person, but your Google password and your JitBackup console password are separate. A company email address alone does not give you access to JitBackup.
What Should We Agree on First?
- Which users, apps, and Shared Drives must be protected, including new employees.
- How much time can pass between successful backups, and how long older versions should remain available.
- Who can read or restore company data, and who receives backup reports.
- Where backup data and the local index will be stored, with room for growth.
- Who handles a failed backup when the usual administrator is away.
For a new installation, follow Install JitBackup and the Setup Wizard. Once you can sign in, follow Run and check your first backup.