Protocol is provided for safe transfer of files from between nodes of a communication system. The protocol includes a handshake operation between a source (local or initiating) node sending one or more files and a remote (responding) node receiving the files to ensure that control of the file remains with the source node until the file is successfully transferred. The protocol is provided by a file transfer manager that controls the transfer process through a series of file moves that include moving the file into a directory associated with the file transfer manager, from which the file is sent and moving the file out of that directory after the remote node acknowledges a safe copy operation of the file. Files are maintained in the sending directory and under control of the source node at least for a configurable amount of time until the file is safely transferred. Files can be retrieved by the remote node after they have been transmitted for a configurable amount of time, after which they will be deleted from the local node.