A method includes receiving, by a processor from a virtual machine (VM) executed by the processor, an indication that a proper subset of a plurality of virtual memory pages of the VM are secure memory pages. The method further includes, responsive to determining the VM is attempting to access a first memory page, determining whether the proper subset comprises the first memory page. The method further includes, responsive to determining the proper subset comprises the first memory page: using first attributes specified by the VM for the first memory page; and ignoring second attributes specified by a virtual machine monitor (VMM) for the first memory page. The VMM is executed by the processor to manage the VM.