Who is this workflow for? This workflow automates the removal of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from CSV files stored in Google Drive. Leveraging n8n and OpenAI, it identifies and sanitizes sensitive data, ensuring compliance and data protection without manual intervention..

What does this workflow do?

  • Monitor Google Drive: The workflow activates when a new CSV file is uploaded to a specified Google Drive folder.
  • Identify PII Columns: The OpenAI node analyzes the CSV data to detect columns containing PII, such as names, emails, or phone numbers.
  • Remove PII: Identified PII columns are excluded from the dataset, effectively sanitizing the file.
  • Upload Cleaned File: The sanitized CSV is renamed and uploaded to a designated Google Drive folder, preserving the original file.

Customization Options

  • PII Identification: Tailor the OpenAI prompt to match specific data compliance requirements or to recognize additional PII types.
  • File Type Filtering: Configure the Google Drive Trigger to monitor specific file formats, such as limiting to CSV files only.
  • Output Destination: Specify different Google Drive folders for cleaned files to organize sanitized data effectively.

Prerequisites

  • Google Drive account.
  • OpenAI API key.
  • An n8n account.

Workflow Configuration

  • Google Drive Trigger: Set up to monitor a specific folder for new CSV file uploads.
  • OpenAI Integration: Connect the OpenAI node using your API key to analyze and identify PII columns.
  • Google Drive Upload: Configure to upload the sanitized file to a different folder, preventing workflow loops.
  • Google Sheets
  • Slack
  • HTTP Request
  • Merge
  • MySQL
  • AI Models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter)
  • Webhook
  • Notion

This workflow template leverages n8n’s automation capabilities alongside OpenAI’s powerful data analysis to ensure your CSV files remain free of sensitive information, safeguarding both your data and your compliance standards.

🤖 Why Use This Automation Workflow?

  • Automated Compliance: Ensures sensitive information is consistently removed, maintaining data privacy standards.
  • Efficiency: Reduces the time and effort required to manually identify and cleanse PII in datasets.
  • Integration: Seamlessly connects with Google Drive and OpenAI, fitting smoothly into existing workflows.

👨‍💻 Who is This Workflow For?

This workflow is ideal for:

  • Data Analysts: Streamlining data preparation by automatically sanitizing datasets.
  • Compliance Officers: Ensuring data handling meets privacy regulations.
  • Businesses Handling Sensitive Data: Protecting customer information without disrupting operations.

🎯 Use Cases

  1. Customer Data Management: Automatically cleanse customer databases of PII before analysis or sharing.
  2. Research Institutions: Prepare research data by removing identifiable information to comply with ethical standards.
  3. HR Departments: Secure employee records by filtering out sensitive personal details before processing.

TL;DR

This n8n workflow provides an automated solution for removing PII from CSV files using OpenAI and Google Drive integration. It enhances data privacy, ensures regulatory compliance, and streamlines data management processes.

Help us find the best n8n templates

About

A curated directory of the best n8n templates for workflow automations.