Systems and methods for secure modular hardware binding

A secure modular hardware binding method comprising, for each of a plurality of Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs):

• storing an encrypted secret key in a platform Root-of-Trust (ROT) and the CPLD;
• receiving, by the platform ROT, a request to authenticate a firmware stack installed on the CPLD;
• presenting, by the CPLD, an encrypted secret key to the platform ROT;
• authenticating, by the platform ROT, the firmware stack by comparing the encrypted secret key received from the CPLD with its stored version of the encrypted secret key;
• and
• allowing operation of the CPLD based on the authentication.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a Datacenter-Modular Hardware System (DC-MHS), cause the DC-MHS to, for each of a plurality of Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs):

• store an encrypted secret key in a platform Root-of-Trust (ROT) and the CPLD;
• receive, by the platform ROT, a request to authenticate a firmware stack installed on the CPLD;
• present, by the CPLD, an encrypted secret key to the platform ROT;
• authenticate, by the platform ROT, the firmware stack by comparing the encrypted secret key received from the CPLD with its stored version of the encrypted secret key;
• and
• allow operation of the CPLD based on the authentication.