Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) servers execute Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) to exchange user data under the control of a Management and Orchestration (MANO) system. A Hardware-Trust (HT) server maintains hardware trust in some of the NFVI servers. The HT server exchanges NFVI/VNF execution data with the MANO system to associate executing VNFs with hardware-trusted NFVI servers. A control set of the VNFs receives a request for a hardware-trusted communication and responsively selects a network bearer supported by data VNFs. The HT server determines if the data VNFs are hardware-trusted VNFs, and if so, the HT server indicates to the control VNFs that the hardware-trusted communication may proceed. The control VNFs direct the data VNFs to transfer the hardware-trusted data communication over the selected network bearer.