Are your Gen10 servers still running without hardware-backed security?

The TPM gap in older infrastructure

If your organisation is still operating HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers without Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 protection, you’re running a security posture that’s increasingly difficult to defend. TPM 2.0 isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the hardware foundation for encrypted boot sequences, secure credential storage, and firmware integrity verification. Over the next 12–18 months, regulatory pressure in West Africa around data residency and infrastructure security will only tighten, particularly for financial services, telecoms, and government-adjacent sectors.

The challenge many organisations face is simple: retrofitting older hardware with security modules feels like an unnecessary expense when the servers are still performing their workload. But that logic breaks down the moment a compliance audit arrives or a breach investigation demands proof of hardware-level security controls.

A practical upgrade path for constrained budgets

Refurbished TPM 2.0 modules with housing represent a middle ground that makes sense for West African enterprises managing tight capex cycles. Rather than full server replacement, adding certified TPM hardware to existing Gen10 infrastructure lets you:

• Close a visible security gap without abandoning functional equipment
• Meet emerging compliance requirements (particularly around secure boot and attestation)
• Preserve your existing hypervisor and application investments
• Spread infrastructure modernisation costs across multiple refresh cycles

The key is ensuring any refurbished component comes with proper certification and support lineage—not every discount module is worth the risk.

What GDS recommends

At GDS Africa, we’ve seen too many enterprises delay these incremental security upgrades, only to face rushed, expensive remediation later. If your Gen10 estate lacks TPM 2.0, now is the time to audit which systems genuinely need it (typically your virtualisation hosts, database servers, and sensitive workload platforms) and plan a phased retrofit. We can help you source certified refurbished modules, validate compatibility with your specific configurations, and integrate them into your broader security and compliance roadmap—without disrupting production.

The cost of adding TPM today is far lower than explaining its absence to regulators in 2027.