Verify Boot Process
System and Information Integrity
NIST Control Text
Verify the integrity of the boot process of the following system components: [Assignment: organization-defined system components].
NIST Discussion
Ensuring the integrity of boot processes is critical to starting system components in known, trustworthy states. Integrity verification mechanisms provide a level of assurance that only trusted code is executed during boot processes.
SL5 Supplemental Guidance
AI accelerators verify boot integrity using hardware-based mechanisms rooted in the hardware root-of-trust. Boot measurements are stored for attestation (IA-3), enabling remote verification that the accelerator booted with authorized firmware. Boot process verification for other system components is specified by applicable frameworks (CNSSI 1253 specifies boot integrity verification for all components that support it) and organizational policies.