Abstract: Disclosed methods maintain security key information, including a unique security key, for one or more blade servers inserted in slots of one or more modular chassis. Following an indication of a logical trusted group comprising a plurality of slots, a trusted group database, including the security key information for each blade server in a slot of the trusted group, is maintained. Responsive to detecting movement of a blade server between two slots of the trusted group, a pre boot process of the server blade in the second slot is automatically authenticated via the security key information in the trusted group database. If a blade server not associated with the trusted group is inserted into a trusted group slot, automatic authentication is blocked and the user is prompted to manually authenticate the new blade server. If manual authentication is successful, security key information for the new blade is added to the database.