Decentralized virus scanning for stored data

The invention provides a method and system for performing specialized services for files at a server, such as scanning files for viruses. A filer or other server is connected to one or more supplementary computing devices that scan requested files to ensure they are virus free prior to delivery to end users. When an end user requests a file the following steps occur: The server determines whether the file requested must be scanned before delivery to the end user. The server opens a channel to one of the external computing devices and sends the filename. The external computing device opens the file and scans it. The external computing device notifies the filer the results of the file scan operation. The server sends the file to the end user provided the status indicates it may do so.