How Do I Know My Backup Is Working?

A saved configuration is only the starting point. Confirm that a backup finishes for the users and apps you need, then open a backed-up item to check that it can be recovered.

Run Your First Backup

  1. Sign in to your company's JitBackup management console and check the selected domain at the top of the page.
  2. Ask a Domain Administrator to verify the user selection and enabled apps under Settings > Backup settings. Shared Drives have a separate selection. See Choose what and when to back up.
  3. Open Overview and check Backup & Subscription for any subscription message.
  4. Click Backup. If a backup is already running, monitor that job instead of starting another.
  5. Open History > Backup History to review the result. Refresh the page if you have left it open while the job runs.

The first backup may take longer because JitBackup has to collect the selected data. You can close the browser while the server continues working.

Check the Result and the Coverage

In Backup History, inspect the latest job's status, time, and error count. Use the row's details control to see results for each user or Shared Drive and the individual apps. Click an error count to read the messages.

Result What to do
Success Check that the intended users and apps were included, then inspect a sample backup
Partial success or a result with errors Some work completed, but affected items need attention; read the errors before relying on that backup
Failed Read the error and confirm which earlier recovery points remain available
Cancelled The job was interrupted; check its details and arrange another backup
No recent record Check the schedule, server, selected domain, and subscription

A recent successful job for one user does not confirm protection for another. A total size or item count also does not prove that a particular email or file is recoverable.

Open a Sample Item

  1. Open Restore from > Workspace Users, find a protected user, and select an app.
  2. For Drive, Contacts, Calendar, or Tasks, select an available backup date and recovery point. For Gmail, browse the backed-up labels and messages.
  3. Open or export a known item and confirm its contents.
  4. With the data owner's agreement, restore a small sample to a clearly named destination and verify it in Google Workspace.

For Shared Drives, perform the same check through Restore from > Shared Drives with an active paid license.

Make a Short Daily Check

  • The latest successful backup is as recent as your company requires.
  • There are no unexplained errors or missing users and apps.
  • New employees and new Shared Drives have been included where required.
  • The backup server, local index disk, and backup storage have enough available space.
  • The person responsible has reviewed the email report, if reports are enabled.

For a stale or failed job, continue with Why is my backup not running or taking so long?.