A storage system according to one embodiment includes a first storage tier; a second storage tier; logic for storing instances of a file in the first storage tier and the second storage tier; logic for receiving a request to access the file or instance thereof from a user in a group of users; logic for providing the user requesting access to the file with remote access to an instance of the file on the first storage tier that is not being used by any other user in the group of users; logic for setting an ownership status of the instance of the file on the first storage tier to owned by the user requesting access to the file; and logic for setting an ownership status of an unused instance of the file on the second storage tier from owned by the user requesting access to the file to unowned or owned by a second user which previously owned the instance of the file on the first storage tier. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.