vTPMs provide hardware-based, security-related functions such as random number generation, attestation, key generation, and more. When added to a virtual machine, a vTPM enables the guest operating system to create and store keys that are private. These keys are not exposed to the guest operating system itself. Therefore, the virtual machine attack surface is reduced. Usually, compromising the guest operating system compromises its secrets, but enabling a vTPM greatly reduces this risk. These keys can be used only by the guest operating system for encryption or signing. With an attached vTPM, a client can remotely attest the identity of the virtual machine, and verify the software that it is running.

A vTPM does not require a physical Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip to be present on the ESXi host. However, if you want to perform host attestation, an external entity, such as a TPM 2.0 physical chip, is required. See Securing ESXi Hosts with Trusted Platform Module.

How Do You Configure a vTPM for a Virtual Machine

From the perspective of the virtual machine, a vTPM is a virtual device. You can add a vTPM to either a new or an existing virtual machine. A vTPM depends on virtual machine encryption to secure vital TPM data, thus, it requires that you configure a key provider. When you configure a vTPM, the virtual machine files are encrypted but not the disks. You can choose to add encryption explicitly for the virtual machine and its disks.

When you back up a virtual machine enabled with a vTPM, the backup must include all virtual machine data, including the *.nvram file. If your backup does not include the *.nvram file, you cannot restore a virtual machine with a vTPM. Also, because the VM home files of a vTPM-enabled virtual machine are encrypted, ensure that the encryption keys are available at the time of a restore.

In vSphere 8.0 and later, when cloning a virtual machine with a vTPM, selecting the Replace option for a virtual machine with a vTPM starts with a new, blank vTPM, which gets its own secrets and identity. When you replace the secrets of a vTPM, all keys, including workload-related keys, are replaced. As a best practice, ensure that your workloads no longer use a vTPM before you replace the keys. Otherwise, the workloads in the cloned virtual machine might not function correctly.

vSphere Requirements for vTPMs

To use a vTPM, your vSphere environment must meet these requirements:

• Virtual machine requirements:
  • EFI firmware
  • Hardware version 14 and later
• Component requirements:
  • vCenter Server 6.7 and later for Windows virtual machines, vCenter Server 7.0 Update 2 and later for Linux virtual machines.
  • Virtual machine encryption (to encrypt the virtual machine home files).
  • Key provider configured for vCenter Server. See Comparison of vSphere Key Providers.
• Guest OS support:
  • Linux
  • Windows Server 2008 and later
  • Windows 7 and later

Differences Between a Hardware TPM and a Virtual TPM

You use a hardware Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to provide secure storage of credentials or keys. A vTPM performs the same functions as a TPM, but it performs cryptographic coprocessor capabilities in software. A vTPM uses the .nvram file, which is encrypted using virtual machine encryption, as its secure storage.

A hardware TPM includes a preloaded key called the Endorsement Key (EK). The EK has a private and public key. The EK provides the TPM with a unique identity. For a vTPM, this key is provided either by the VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA) or by a third-party Certificate Authority (CA). After the vTPM uses a key, it is typically not changed because doing so invalidates sensitive information stored in the vTPM. The vTPM does not contact the third-party CA at any time.