Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for authorizing execution of processes that access cached data of an application running in a virtualized cloud environment. A first composite encrypted value comprising a first encrypted secret and a first secure hash value of a first secret is retrieved at a first virtual machine. The first encrypted secret is decrypted using a cryptographic key to determine a second secret to be used for initiating a first process (pα) on the first virtual machine. A second secure hash value of the second secret is generated. The second secure hash value is compared with the first secure hash value to determine whether to authorize execution of the first process on the first virtual machine using the first secret. In response to determining that the second secure hash value and the first secure hash value match, the first process is initiated at the first virtual machine.