Versioned file system with global lock

A method of locking a shared file stored in a cloud-based network-attached file system (NAS), the method carried out at a local file system, comprising:

• creating a snapshot of a most recent version of the shared file without triggering a copy-on-write (COW) event in the local file system;
• intercepting a local lock request initiated by a user of a local file system, the local lock request for write access to the shared file;
• translating the local lock request having a first local protocol to a global lock request having a common lock format recognized and used by a central lock server to manage locking of the shared file, the common lock format comprising a unique identifier handle, a requested lock mode, and a protocol associated with the local lock request;
• sending the global lock request from the local file system to the central lock server;
• and
• receiving, at the local file system and from the central lock server, a global lock for the shared file together with a latest version of the shared file when the central lock server determines that the global lock is available, the latest version of the shared file having been retrieved from the cloud-based NAS by the central lock server using the unique identifier handle.