Techniques are disclosed for assessment and verification of processor configuration and settings using System Management Mode (SMM) in conjunction with a hardware root of trust (HRoT). A method may include receiving custom boot codes from a security device, the custom boot codes configured to install a security module to process a periodic System Management Interrupt (SMI), configure the periodic SMI for initiation, and configure at least one configuration register for validation in response to execution of the security module. The method may also include responsive to initiation of the configured periodic SMI, validating, using the security device, the at least one configuration register.