Top 10 IT Tasks You Should Automate Today with n8n

Automating IT tasks saves you from slogging through repetitive work, cutting down errors and freeing up time to focus on things that actually need your brain. If you’ve been toying with the idea of automating stuff in IT, especially using an open and flexible tool like n8n, you’re in the right place. It doesn’t matter if you’re solo, a junior DevOps person, or part of a small tech team — I’ve got some solid ideas that’ll help you get started today.

In this post, I’ll share the top 10 IT tasks you should automate using n8n. I’ll also walk you through how to set up n8n securely on AWS with Docker Compose. Trust me, it’s simpler than it sounds — and once you get your automation foundation right, you can build reliable workflows that actually scale without all the headaches.

Why Automate IT Tasks with n8n?

It’s worth pausing to consider why n8n is a solid pick before jumping into the tasks to automate. Here’s the gist:

• Open Source & Self-Hosted: You keep full control over your data and processes. No vendor lock-in.
• Visual Workflow Builder: Drag, drop, connect — no need to write tons of code to get things done.
• Loads of Integrations: Whether it’s APIs, databases, cloud apps, or chat platforms, n8n plays well with many tools.
• Scalable: Start with a few automations; grow as your needs change.
• Active Community and Support: Plenty of examples, docs, and folks to turn to when you’re stuck.

Basically, n8n strikes a nice balance between power and simplicity. It works well for all sorts of IT processes, from just managing tickets to spinning up infrastructure.

How to Deploy n8n Securely on AWS with Docker Compose

Before you start automating, you need a reliable place to run your workflows. Here’s a straightforward way to get n8n up and running on AWS with Docker Compose.

Step 1: Get Your AWS EC2 Instance Ready

Pick an Ubuntu 22.04 LTS server with at least 1 virtual CPU and 2GB of RAM — enough to start without things grinding to a halt.

SSH into the server like this:

ssh -i your-key.pem ubuntu@your-ec2-instance-public-ip

Update the system and install Docker:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl start docker

Add your user to the Docker group so you don’t have to keep typing sudo for every command:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

Step 2: Create Your Docker Compose File

Now, make a folder for n8n and create the file that will tell Docker how to run it:

mkdir ~/n8n && cd ~/n8n
nano docker-compose.yml

Paste in this setup:

version: '3'

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=admin
      - N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=yourStrongPassword
      - N8N_HOST=your-ec2-instance-public-ip
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
    volumes:
      - ./n8n-data:/root/.n8n

Don’t forget to swap out yourStrongPassword with something decent, and set the IP for your server. This config adds a basic login and keeps your data saved on the server.

Save and exit the file (in nano, it’s Ctrl+O then Ctrl+X).

Step 3: Fire It Up

Run:

docker-compose up -d

Your n8n instance should now be live at http://your-ec2-instance-public-ip:5678. For anything beyond testing, you’ll want to secure it better — set up HTTPS with a reverse proxy like Nginx and grab a free TLS certificate from Let’s Encrypt.

---

Top 10 IT Tasks to Automate with n8n

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff — here’s a list of actual IT workflows that make life easier and save you from manual busywork. n8n’s drag-and-drop editor, combined with its native connectors, makes building these straightforward.

1. Automated Incident and Ticket Creation

When your monitoring system spots trouble — like a CPU spike or downtime — don’t wait for someone to manually open a ticket.

• How it works: The alert triggers a webhook that instantly creates a ticket in tools like Jira or Zendesk.
• Why bother: You speed up incident response, reduce forgetfulness, and keep things moving.

2. User Account Provisioning and Deprovisioning

Hiring or firing? Automate the tedious account setup and disabling across email, Slack, VPNs, and other internal tools.

• How it works: An update in your HR system triggers workflows that create or disable accounts.
• Why bother: Keeps security tight and saves hours of manual steps during staff changes.

3. Scheduled System Health Checks and Report Emails

Run routine checks on servers — CPU load, disk space, service status — then send a summary to your team.

• How it works: Scripts or APIs gather health info, then results go straight to Slack or email.
• Why bother: Stay ahead of issues without needing to remember to run checks yourself.

4. Automated Backup Notifications and File Verification

Backups feel boring until they fail. Automate notifying your team whenever backups finish or kick the bucket.

• How it works: Watch backup logs, alert on outcomes, and verify backup files for integrity.
• Why bother: Catch backup problems early and keep your data safe.

5. Continuous Deployment Pipeline Triggers

Let code pushes automatically fire off deployments instead of you clicking buttons.

• How it works: Detect GitHub or GitLab webhook events, call Jenkins or AWS CodeDeploy, then notify the team.
• Why bother: Quicker, consistent releases with fewer human slip-ups.

6. License and Subscription Renewal Alerts

Nobody likes that last-minute scramble to renew software licenses or cloud subscriptions.

• How it works: Check expiration dates in your asset database and send reminder emails ahead of time.
• Why bother: Avoid unexpected downtime or paying for stuff you’re not even using.

7. Asset Inventory Updates

Manually updating your hardware and software inventory? Automate those updates from CMDBs or asset trackers.

• How it works: Connect to APIs, sync data daily, and flag mismatches.
• Why bother: Keep your asset info accurate without the headache.

8. Real-Time Slack/Teams Alerts for Critical Events

Keep everyone in the loop instantly when something important happens.

• How it works: Events like deployments, alerts, or incidents trigger formatted messages in your chat channels.
• Why bother: Faster response, better visibility, and fewer missed updates.

9. Password Policy Enforcement and Rotation Reminders

It’s a pain remembering when passwords expire. Automate reminders and enforce rotation policies.

• How it works: Check user password stats, highlight expiring ones, and send notifications.
• Why bother: Security stays strong without nagging IT folks every day.

10. Data Sync Between CRM and IT Asset Systems

Sales and IT teams don’t always talk enough. Keep CRM data in sync with your IT asset management or ticketing systems.

• How it works: New records in your CRM trigger updates or tickets in your IT systems.
• Why bother: Smooth handoffs, faster support, happier customers.

---

How to Build an Example Automation: Slack Notifications on New Jira Tickets

Wanna see how simple it can be? Here’s a quick build to get Slack alerts whenever a new Jira ticket pops up.

Step 1: Create a New Workflow in n8n

• Open n8n.
• Add a Webhook node — Jira will call this when tickets are created.

Step 2: Set Up Jira Webhook

• In Jira, go to System > Webhooks.
• Add a webhook URL pointing to the n8n URL plus your webhook path, like:
  https://yourdomain.com/webhook/123

Step 3: Parse the Incoming Data

• Use a Function node to pick out important stuff — the ticket title, description, priority.

return [
  {
    json: {
      title: $json.issue.fields.summary,
      priority: $json.issue.fields.priority.name,
      url: $json.issue.self
    }
  }
]

Step 4: Connect to Slack

• Add a Slack node.
• Configure it to post a message using the info extracted by the function node.

Step 5: Turn It On and Test

Create a ticket in Jira and watch a message appear in your Slack channel automatically. Magic.

---

Security and Scalability Tips

Once you’re running n8n, here are some must-dos:

• Enable Authentication: Use N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true with a good password.
• Run Behind HTTPS: A reverse proxy like Nginx with TLS certificates keeps data safe.
• Restrict Network Access: Put n8n behind a VPC or VPN when dealing with sensitive info.
• Keep Secrets Out of Code: Use environment variables, never hardcode credentials.
• Backup Your Workflows: Make sure your workflows are saved to a volume and backed up regularly.
• Scale Thoughtfully: For bigger teams, try Docker Swarm or Kubernetes to run n8n in cluster mode.
• Monitor Resources: Watch CPU and memory usage as you add more complex automations.

---

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Grow Smart

Don’t try to automate everything at once. Pick simple, low-risk workflows first — like sending notifications or daily reports. Once you get the hang of it, move on to more critical automations like user provisioning or deployments.

n8n’s openness lets you adapt the platform to what you actually need. Follow the deployment and security tips here to keep your automations solid and safe.

Conclusion

Automating IT tasks cuts down on repetitive work and errors, saving your team time and stress. n8n offers a flexible, accessible way to build these automations without a ton of coding.

The 10 tasks I shared hit common pain points like handling incidents, managing user accounts, backup checks, and alerts. You can start by setting up n8n on AWS using Docker Compose, then pick the task that annoys you most or wastes the most time.

Build more workflows as you go. Eventually, you’ll free up hours, reduce mistakes, and let your tech team focus on making actual improvements instead of tedious manual stuff.

Ready to get started? Set up your n8n instance today and create your first workflow. If you want help or examples, the n8n docs and community on GitHub are great places to check out.

Happy automating!
— Avkash Kakdiya