1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying computer-readable instructions executable in at least one computing device, the at least one computing device executing a plurality of machine instances, and the computer-readable instructions, when executed, directing the at least one computing device to at least: detect at least one side channel pattern based at least in part on a pattern of activity of a physical implementation of the at least one computing device, the side channel pattern embodying at least one communication from at least one of the plurality of machine instances; transform the at least one side channel pattern to generate the at least one communication; determine, based at least in part on content in the at least one communication, whether the plurality of machine instances comprises a quorum of trusted machine instances; and initiate at least one action in response to whether the plurality of machine instances comprises a quorum of trusted machine instances.