A method for ensuring appropriate content formatting of data prior to storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) includes sending a content format verification code (“code”) to a secure execution module. The method further includes signing the code with a secure execution module signature to produce a trusted code and sending the trusted code to a trusted computing module. The method further includes sending, by the trusted computing module, the secure execution module signature and a trusted content format verification code identification to a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit. When the secure execution module signature and the trusted code ID are verified, the method includes sending a write request to the trusted computing module, determining whether the data is in the appropriate content format based on the trusted code, and when the data of the write request is in the appropriate format, sending the data to the DS processing unit.