[Root] Access: IT Pro Advice Column

[Root] Access is an advice column for IT professionals.

Featured on [Root] Access

an annoyed-looking software developer is covered by red tape and the words "process compliance"

Software Development

Process Standardization Is Stifling My Creativity Process Standardization Is Stifling My Creativity

A software developer seeks advice about a new manager’s rigid obsession with process standardization, replacing creative problem-solving with excessive bureaucracy.

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

Feb 11, 2025

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3 Min Read

a laptop with a split screen showing conventional job work and a side project. an animated toggle above switches between work and side project.

Can I Use Company Tools for Personal Side Projects?Can I Use Company Tools for Personal Side Projects?

byDanielle Meinert

Feb 3, 2025

3 Min Read

an IT worker is asleep waiting for a long IT process to complete

Can I Speed Up Our Windows Storage Spaces Recovery?Can I Speed Up Our Windows Storage Spaces Recovery?

Jan 28, 2025

3 Min Read

a carousel of angry users slides past a tired help desk worker

How Should IT Help Desks Deal With Difficult Users?How Should IT Help Desks Deal With Difficult Users?

byDanielle Meinert

Jan 22, 2025

3 Min Read

an office worker's desk has a pink job termination slip, a cardboard box of personal items, and a computer monitor saying 'User Account Deleted.'

I’m Helping with Layoffs, But It’s Breaking Me I’m Helping with Layoffs, But It’s Breaking Me

byDanielle Meinert

Jan 15, 2025

3 Min Read

a remote worker at a laptop slowly vanishes under the caption: How can I have a sense of connection while working remotely?

Unified Communications

How Can I Stop Feeling Invisible While Working Remotely?How Can I Stop Feeling Invisible While Working Remotely?

byDanielle Meinert

Jan 7, 2025

3 Min Read

More from [Root] Access

a weary person next to several energy drink cans and the flicking words ransomware recovery

Disaster Recovery

How Do We Build Ransomware Resilience Beyond Just Backups?

How Do We Build Ransomware Resilience Beyond Just Backups?

an anxious IT professional with a thought bubble that says "I'm panicking" in front of a large crowd

My First Big Presentation: Career-Making Moment or Total Trainwreck?

My First Big Presentation: Career-Making Moment or Total Trainwreck?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a person works at their office computer trying to troubleshoot a lost storage space issue

Where Did My Windows Server's Disk Space Disappear To?

Where Did My Windows Server's Disk Space Disappear To?

an it pro is disappointed as a poster for sustainability is switched with one for financial results and garbage piles up next to a recycling bin

How Do I Advocate for Green IT Without Being Dismissed as a Lorax?

How Do I Advocate for Green IT Without Being Dismissed as a Lorax?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a person rolls their eyes at the sounding of an alarm bell

How Do I Tell My IT Security Manager To Stop Crying Wolf?

How Do I Tell My IT Security Manager To Stop Crying Wolf?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a gif showing a cloud outage and a puzzled IT professional

Our Cloud Storage Provider Went Down. Now I’m Rethinking Our Strategy.

Our Cloud Storage Provider Went Down. Now I’m Rethinking Our Strategy.

I’m Struggling to Update My Hybrid IT Environment—Can Powershell Help?

I’m Struggling to Update My Hybrid IT Environment—Can Powershell Help?

a comic book showing an IT pro dressed as a super hero being denied reimbursement at work

‘Going Above and Beyond’ Cost Me $2,000 at Work

‘Going Above and Beyond’ Cost Me $2,000 at Work

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

burnout gif featuring a mannequin surrounded by office technology on fire

Am I Burned Out? How To Identify and Address Burnout in IT

Am I Burned Out? How To Identify and Address Burnout in IT

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a person looking overwhelmed by incoming urgent emails against a background of unopened emails

Can I Use Microsoft Outlook as a Makeshift Helpdesk Ticketing System?

Can I Use Microsoft Outlook as a Makeshift Helpdesk Ticketing System?

a cartoon shows a person in an office place getting a pie thrown in their face, two laughing emojis, and a bad company review

An Office Prank Led to a Negative Employee Review. How Do We Fix It?

An Office Prank Led to a Negative Employee Review. How Do We Fix It?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

an it professional faced with a decision to work from home or work at the office

I’m Torn. Should I Leave My Six-Figure Job So I Can Work Remotely?

I’m Torn. Should I Leave My Six-Figure Job So I Can Work Remotely?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a phone call between two business people reveals that one of them is a deepfake scammer

Vulnerabilities & Threats

We’re Worried About Deepfake Voice Scams. How Do We Protect Employees?

We’re Worried About Deepfake Voice Scams. How Do We Protect Employees?

a casually dressed it professionals is awkwardly projected on a video call screen in front of a large professional audience

My Manager Promised a Chill Meeting. I Got Ambushed Instead.

My Manager Promised a Chill Meeting. I Got Ambushed Instead.

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

art showing a contemplative person questioning his career and the words "my adhd diagnosis made me question everything"

Did ADHD Traits Shape My Career as a Sysadmin?

Did ADHD Traits Shape My Career as a Sysadmin?

byDanielle Meinert, Contributor

a stressed employee at their laptop and collaboration icons gone amok

Unified Communications

Microsoft Teams Is Acting Up. What Can We Do?

Microsoft Teams Is Acting Up. What Can We Do?