Methods and apparatus for hardware based file/document expiry timer enforcement is disclosed. An example method includes instructing, by executing an instruction with a processor, a trusted execution environment to generate an encryption key and a certificate for a document, the certificate including expiry information for the document, the certificate associated with identification information of the document, and the expiry information indicative of a time period for which the encryption key is valid to decrypt the document; encrypting, by executing an instruction with the processor, the document using the encryption key; transmitting the certificate to a first remote network storage device; and transmitting the document to a second remote network storage device.