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This page provides instructions on how to access the report manager's built-in
historical reports in a CSV format that are exported to a Cloud Storage bucket.
It also provides instructions on how to modify the data retention period of the
reporting data.
Modify data retention period
By default, the reporting data for your reports is retained as per the existing
retention period defined in the report manager. By default, the retention period
is set to one year. With Modify data retention period, you can extend the
retention period up to 10 years and modify the retention period between 1 day and 10 years.
If you reduce the data retention period, you won't be able to retrieve the data
for the period that has been reduced. For example, changing the data retention
period from 10 years to 8 years results in the loss of reporting data for
the oldest 2 years.
Use the following instructions to modify data retention period:
Click the Reports tab and select Export historical reports from the drop-down menu.
Click Modify data retention period.
In the Retain data for the field, enter the retention period and
select Year, Month, Week, or Day from the drop-down.
Select the Select to confirm that you would like to modify the data retention period checkbox.
Click Save.
It can take one day for the modified retention period to take effect.
Export historical reports
To export historical reports, you need the following:
A Cloud Storage bucket. This bucket serves as the destination for the
exported report. You can Create a new Cloud Storage bucket
or use an existing bucket.
Assign the Storage Object Creator (roles/storage.objectCreator) IAM role to
the bucket. This role provides permissions to access to the Cloud Storage
bucket where the report is to be exported. Assigning the role to the bucket is a one-time activity.
Be assigned with the Backup and DR Backup User (roles/backupdr.backupUser)
IAM role to export reports.
Use the following instructions to export historical reports to a Cloud Storage bucket:
Click the Reports tab and select Export historical reports from the drop-down menu.
Click the calendar_month icon and select
From and To dates. The selectable From date is limited based on the
retention period configured for your reports. The maximum To date that you
can select is yesterday.
From the Report to export section, select reports from one of the following categories that you want to export.
Audit
Jobs
Protection
Backup plan compliance
Summary
Utilization
In the Bucket name field, enter the bucket name that you created to
export the built-in reports. If you didn't export a report in the last 90 days, you'll need to re-enter the
bucket name.
To assign the permissions to the Cloud Storage bucket, do the following.
This role provides access to the Cloud Storage bucket where the report is to be exported.
Go to the Google Cloud console and click Activate cloud shell.
Copy and paste the command that is displayed in the management console.
This role provides permissions to access the Cloud Storage bucket where
the report to be exported.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-29 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis guide outlines the process for exporting historical reports in CSV format to a Cloud Storage bucket from the report manager.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eYou can adjust the data retention period for your reports, ranging from 1 day to 10 years, with the default retention period being one year.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo export reports, you need a Cloud Storage bucket and must have the Storage Object Creator and Backup and DR Backup User IAM roles assigned.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eModifying the data retention period can lead to the loss of older reporting data if the retention period is shortened, and this is restricted to Backup and DR Admins.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eOnce exported, the reports are accessible in the designated Cloud Storage bucket, allowing you to select and download the CSV file you require.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Access historical reports\n\nThis page provides instructions on how to access the report manager's built-in\nhistorical reports in a CSV format that are exported to a Cloud Storage bucket.\nIt also provides instructions on how to modify the data retention period of the\nreporting data.\n\nModify data retention period\n----------------------------\n\nBy default, the reporting data for your reports is retained as per the existing\nretention period defined in the report manager. By default, the retention period\nis set to one year. With **Modify data retention period**, you can extend the\nretention period up to 10 years and modify the retention period between 1 day and 10 years.\n\nIf you reduce the data retention period, you won't be able to retrieve the data\nfor the period that has been reduced. For example, changing the data retention\nperiod from 10 years to 8 years results in the loss of reporting data for\nthe oldest 2 years.\n| **Note:** Only Backup and DR Admin can modify the data retention period. To modify data retention period, ask your administrator to grant you the Backup and DR Admin (`roles/backupdr.admin`) IAM role.\n\nUse the following instructions to modify data retention period:\n\n1. Click the **Reports** tab and select **Export historical reports** from the drop-down menu.\n2. Click **Modify data retention period**.\n3. In the **Retain data for** the field, enter the retention period and select **Year** , **Month** , **Week** , or **Day** from the drop-down.\n4. Select the **Select to confirm that you would like to modify the data retention period** checkbox.\n5. Click **Save**.\n\n It can take one day for the modified retention period to take effect.\n\nExport historical reports\n-------------------------\n\nTo export historical reports, you need the following:\n\n- A Cloud Storage bucket. This bucket serves as the destination for the exported report. You can [Create a new Cloud Storage bucket](/storage/docs/creating-buckets) or use an existing bucket.\n- Assign the Storage Object Creator (`roles/storage.objectCreator`) IAM role to the bucket. This role provides permissions to access to the Cloud Storage bucket where the report is to be exported. Assigning the role to the bucket is a one-time activity.\n- Be assigned with the Backup and DR Backup User (`roles/backupdr.backupUser`) IAM role to export reports.\n\nUse the following instructions to export historical reports to a Cloud Storage bucket:\n\n1. Click the **Reports** tab and select **Export historical reports** from the drop-down menu.\n2. Click the calendar_month icon and select\n **From** and **To** dates. The selectable **From** date is limited based on the\n retention period configured for your reports. The maximum **To** date that you\n can select is yesterday.\n\n3. From the **Report to export** section, select reports from one of the following categories that you want to export.\n\n - Audit\n - Jobs\n - Protection\n - Backup plan compliance\n - Summary\n - Utilization\n4. In the **Bucket name** field, enter the bucket name that you created to\n export the built-in reports. If you didn't export a report in the last 90 days, you'll need to re-enter the\n bucket name.\n\n5. To assign the permissions to the Cloud Storage bucket, do the following.\n This role provides access to the Cloud Storage bucket where the report is to be exported.\n\n 1. Go to the Google Cloud console and click **Activate cloud shell**.\n 2. Copy and paste the command that is displayed in the management console.\n This role provides permissions to access the Cloud Storage bucket where\n the report to be exported.\n\n gcloud storage buckets add-iam-policy-binding gs://\u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eBUCKET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e --member=\u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSERVICE_ACCOUNT\u003c/var\u003e --role=roles/storage.objectCreator\n\n Replace the following:\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eBUCKET_NAME\u003c/var\u003e: the name that is given to storage bucket.\n - \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eSERVICE_ACCOUNT\u003c/var\u003e: the service account associated with storage bucket. For example, my-service-account@my-project.iam.gserviceaccount.com.\n6. After assigning the permissions, go to the management console, and select the **Prerequisites** checkbox.\n\n7. Click **Export**.\n\n8. Optional: Click **View details** to view the detailed export status of reports.\n\n The reports are exported to a Cloud Storage **Buckets** in a CSV format.\n | **Note:** You cannot run more than one export at a time. If you attempt to initiate an export while an export is already in progress, it displays an error message.\n\nAccess the exported reports in Cloud Storage bucket\n---------------------------------------------------\n\nUse the following instructions to access the exported reports in a Cloud Storage bucket:\n\n1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the Cloud Storage **Buckets** page. \n\n [Go to Buckets](https://console.cloud.google.com/storage/browser)\n2. Select the bucket that you have used to export reports.\n3. Select a report and click **Download**."]]
