System and method for authenticating computer system boot instructions during booting by using a public key associated with a processor and a monitoring device

A method comprising:

• determining whether pre-boot instructions are authentic using a public key associated with a central processing unit;
• determining whether a public key associated with boot instructions is authentic using the public key associated with the central processing unit;
• determining whether the boot instructions are authentic using the public key associated with boot instructions;
• launching the boot instructions if the boot instructions are authentic;
• and
• monitoring communications between the central processing unit and a boot device during authentication associated with the boot instructions, wherein the boot device stores the pre-boot instructions and the boot instructions, and verifying that the boot instructions are authentic by determining if the communications between the central processing unit and the boot device during the authentication satisfy one or more predefined criteria that specify expected communications during the authentication associated with the boot instructions.

Logic encoded on one or more non-transitory computer readable media for execution and when executed operable to:

• determine whether pre-boot instructions are authentic using a public key associated with a central processing unit;
• determine whether a public key associated with boot instructions is authentic using the public key associated with the central processing unit;
• determine, if the public key associated with boot instructions is authentic, whether the boot instructions are authentic using the public key associated with boot instructions;
• launch the boot instructions if the boot instructions are authentic;
• and
• monitor communications between the central processing unit and a boot device during authentication associated with the boot instructions, wherein the boot device stores the pre-boot instructions and the boot instructions, and verify that the boot instructions are authentic by determining if the communications between the central processing unit and the boot device during the authentication satisfy one or more predefined criteria that specify expected communications during the authentication associated with the boot instructions.