A system, method and computer-readable storage devices for providing protection mechanisms to a server motherboard prior to its booting. A system configured according to this would, upon receiving power at a motherboard, and prior to booting the motherboard: generate a nonce, send the nonce to a first component on the motherboard, and send the nonce to a second component on the motherboard. The system then receives a response from at least one of the first component on the motherboard and the second component on the motherboard, wherein the response is based on a communication protocol between the first component and the second component, the communication protocol utilizing the nonce. When the response indicates a correct hardware configuration, the system performs the booting of the motherboard.