Example implementations include a method of requesting an instruction block associated with one or more instructions and located at one or more addresses of a system memory, obtaining the instruction block from the system memory, generating a hash of the instruction block, obtaining an expected hash associated with the instruction block, comparing the expected hash with the generated hash, in accordance with a determination that the expected hash matches the generated hash, generating a first validation response associated with the instruction block. Example implementations also include a method of obtaining a secure instruction image including an expected hash associated with an instruction block, the instruction block associated with one or more instructions and located at one or more addresses of a system memory, storing the secure instruction image at a configuration register, and enabling the hardware controller to perform one or more hashing operations associated with the instruction block during runtime of a system processor.