A data communication system uses Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). A first BGP Virtual Machine (VM) in a first NFV computer system transfers NFV request data in first BGP signaling for delivery to a second BGP VM in a second NFV computer system. The second BGP VM in the second NFV computer system processes the NFV request data and responsively transfers NFV time-slice data for the second BGP VM in second BGP signaling for delivery to the first BGP VM in the first NFV computer system. The first BGP VM in the first NFV computer system verifies the NFV time-slice data for the second BGP VM and performs a BGP state process only if the NFV time-slice data for the second BGP VM is verified. A Hardware Root of Trust (HRoT) verification for the second BGP VM may be also performed using the BGP signaling.