I've been able to convert a prospect to a client after delivering an end-to-end intake process with n8n, Google Drive, Gmail, and Hubspot. This client wants to proceed with additional automations but the thing that concerns me is: understanding the tech stack and approach to handle sensitive information (i.e., for handling PII and other information gathered during OCR processing). Some things that come to mind include self-hosting n8n, Azure (or other secure cloud platform), etc. Any help on the tech stack solution, whether paid or free, would be helpful. Also, if there is anyone who has this already set up and willing to share l'd appreciate it very much.

This is your n8n Cheat Sheet for 2026 (Attached in this post) In this video I break down the 17 core n8n nodes that I use in almost every automation I build. After creating more than 200 workflows for real clients, my own AI automation business, and even for YouTube videos, these are the nodes that consistently show up across every use case. I walk through each node with real examples and explain why mastering this short list gives you the power to build almost anything in n8n. If you learn these 17, you can move fast, build confidently, and handle almost any automation project you run into.

Excited to share that I sold my first automation after working with a client for over 2 months with refining requirements, design, and my learning/troubleshooting n8n and Google Apps Script on the fly. The solution was focused on automating the intake process that includes populating CRM, Google Drive file/folder manipulation, Google Apps Script, Supabase, AI Agent, and and Gmail. This was my first use case and will be leveraging my client's referrals for a few more use cases in the coming months. Thanks for all the knowledge @Nate Herk @Nate Herk !

RAG agent gave great answers. Client asked: 'Which contract did that come from?' Agent couldn't say. Added citation tracking. Now every answer includes source document and page number. THE PROBLEM WITH BASIC RAG: Agent answers questions. Doesn't track source documents. Can't verify answers. Can't cite sources. Legal teams need sources for every claim. THE SOLUTION: Build citation tracking into RAG pipeline. Capture document metadata. Pass through embeddings. Return with answers. THE EXTENSION: ORIGINAL RAG FLOW: Document → Parse → Split → Embed → Store → Query → Answer EXTENDED RAG FLOW: Document → Parse → Add Metadata → Split (preserve metadata) → Embed (with metadata) → Store with source → Query → Retrieve with source → Answer with citation THE NEW METADATA STRUCTURE: document_id, document_name, document_type, page_number, section, last_updated, owner STORED WITH EACH CHUNK: Every text chunk in vector store includes metadata. When agent retrieves chunks, metadata comes with it. AGENT TOOL ENHANCEMENT: Modified 'Search Documents' tool to return text PLUS source information. Agent receives: Relevant text, source document name, page numbers, confidence score. Agent includes in answer: 'According to the Service Agreement (page 7), the cancellation policy is...' THE IMPLEMENTATION: NODE CHANGES: 1. After Document Parser: SET node creates metadata object 2. Text Splitter: Configure to preserve metadata in chunks 3. Vector Store Insert: Include metadata with embeddings 4. Vector Store Query: Return metadata with results 5. Agent Tool: Format metadata into citation CITATION FORMAT OPTIONS: Simple: (Source: filename.pdf) Detailed: (Source: filename.pdf, page 7, section 3.2) Legal: (Service Agreement v2.1, executed 2024-01-15, section 3.2, page 7) THE RESULTS: - Base RAG: Answers without sources - Extended RAG: Every answer cited - Legal team: Approved (had rejected basic RAG) - Audit compliance: 100% traceable - User trust: Significantly increased

In this video, I’ll show you the cheapest and easiest way to self-host n8n using a Hostinger VPS, even if you’re a complete beginner. Self-hosting can feel scary at first, but with this setup you don’t need any DevOps or technical background. I walk you through the full process step by step, including one-click installation, how to set up automatic backups, how to update and maintain your instance, and how to scale it when you need more power. By the end, you’ll have your own private and secure n8n environment that runs smoothly, costs less, and lets you sleep at night knowing everything is in your control. Code NATEHERK for 10% off yearly hosting plans