A first computing system is configured to (i) decide to execute a file transfer of at least one file from the first computing system to a second computing system, where the at least one file comprises data content that is related to a distributed transaction and is stored at the first computing system, (ii) before the file transfer is executed, determine at least one global context identifier for association with the file transfer, (iii) associate the at least one file with a data element that is isolated from the data content and contains the determined global context identifier, and (iv) execute the file transfer by transmitting the at least one file and the associated data element for receipt by the second computing system.