Notice when a scheduled task goes quiet.
What it checks
A heartbeat monitor expects a request to its private token URL before a deadline. It is useful for backups, imports and scheduled work that cannot be checked with a normal public GET.
Set it up thoughtfully
Send the heartbeat after successful completion. Protect the URL as a secret and choose a deadline that includes expected execution time and scheduling delay.
Know the boundary
A heartbeat proves the configured signal arrived. It does not prove that a backup is restorable or that every business step succeeded.