Forescout FSCP Forescout Certified Professional Exam Exam Practice Test

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout CounterACT HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8, when the Endpoint Remote Inspection method is set to "Using MS-WMI," scripts are run using WMI, but they may not be run interactively using this method.​

MS-WMI Script Execution:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine guide:​

"When Remote Inspection uses MS-WMI, run scripts with

MS-WMI – note that interactive scripts are not supported by WMI on all Windows endpoints. Functionality that relies on interactive endpoint scripts is not implemented when you choose this option. For example, the Start Antivirus and Update Antivirus actions require interactive scripts to manage some antivirus packages."

Interactive Script Limitations with WMI:

According to the documentation:​

"WMI does not support interactive scripts (such as scripts that support Guest Registration and other HTTP-based actions) on some Windows endpoints."

How WMI Scripts Are Run:

According to the documentation:​

When using WMI for script execution:

Background Scripts - Most background scripts can run via WMI

Interactive Scripts - NOT supported by WMI on all endpoints

Workaround for Interactive Scripts - CounterACT uses:

fsprocsvc service (fsprocsvc.exe) - For interactive script support

Microsoft Task Scheduler - Alternative for interactive scripts

WMI vs. Other Methods:

According to the documentation:​

Method

Interactive Scripts

Limitations

MS-WMI

Not supported on all endpoints

Limited to background scripts

fsprocsvc

Supported

Service must be running

Task Scheduler

Not on Vista/7

Legacy OS limitations

Script Execution Flow with MS-WMI:

According to the documentation:​

"CounterACT runs most background scripts using WMI. WMI does not support interactive scripts (such as scripts that support Guest Registration and other HTTP-based actions) on some Windows endpoints. CounterACT uses the fsprocsvc service or Microsoft Task Scheduler to run interactive scripts on these endpoints."

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Using Task Scheduler but with limitations - Task Scheduler is an ALTERNATIVE to WMI, not what MS-WMI uses

B. Using WMI, which will allow interactive scripts - Incorrect; WMI does NOT allow interactive scripts

C. Using RRP, which will allow interactive scripts - RRP is Remote Registry Protocol, not the script execution method with MS-WMI

E. Using fsprocserv.exe, but scripts may not be run interactively - fsprocserv.exe (fsprocsvc) DOES support interactive scripts; it's used as an alternative to overcome WMI limitations

Referenced Documentation:

CounterACT Endpoint Module HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide v10.8 - Script Execution Services section​

When Remote Inspection uses MS-WMI, run scripts with​

About MS-WMI​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

The correct command to monitor system memory and CPU load with 5 second update intervals is vmstat 5. According to the official Linux documentation and Forescout CLI reference materials, the vmstat command uses a straightforward syntax where the first numerical parameter specifies the delay interval in seconds.​

vmstat Command Syntax:

The vmstat (Virtual Memory Statistics) command uses the following syntax:​

bash

vmstat [options] [delay] [count]

Where:

delay - The time interval (in seconds) between updates

count - The number of updates to display (optional; if omitted, displays indefinitely)

vmstat 5 Command:

When you execute vmstat 5:​

Updates are displayed every 5 seconds

Continues indefinitely until manually stopped

Shows memory and CPU statistics in each update

Example output:

text

procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- -system-- ------cpu-----

r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st

1 0 0 1166396 70768 2233228 0 0 0 13 10 24 0 0 100 0 0

0 0 0 1165568 70776 2233352 0 0 0 8 121 224 0 0 99 0 0

0 0 0 1166608 70784 2233352 0 0 0 53 108 209 0 0 100 0 0

Each line represents a new report generated at 5-second intervals.​

Memory and CPU Information Provided:

The vmstat output includes:​

Memory Columns:

free - Amount of idle memory

buff - Amount of memory used as buffers

cache - Amount of memory used as cache

swpd - Amount of virtual memory used

si/so - Memory swapped in/out

CPU Columns:

us - Time spent running user code

sy - Time spent running kernel code

id - Time spent idle

wa - Time spent waiting for I/O

st - Time stolen from virtual machine

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. watch -t 5 vmstat - Incorrect syntax; -t removes headers, not set intervals; interval flag is -n, not -t

C. vmstat -t 5 - The -t option adds a timestamp to output, but doesn't set the interval; the 5 would be ignored

D. watch uptime - The uptime command displays system uptime and load average but not detailed memory/CPU stats; watch requires -n flag for interval specification

E. watch -n 10 vmstat - While syntactically valid, this uses a 10-second interval, not 5 seconds; also unnecessary since vmstat already supports delay parameter directly

Additional vmstat Examples:

According to documentation:​

bash

vmstat 5 5 # Display 5 updates at 5-second intervals

vmstat 1 10 # Display 10 updates at 1-second intervals

vmstat -t 5 5 # Display 5 updates every 5 seconds WITH timestamps

First Report Note:

According to the documentation:​

"When you run vmstat without any parameters, it shows system values based on the averages for each element since the server was last rebooted. These results are not a snapshot of current values."

The first report with vmstat 5 shows averages since last reboot; subsequent reports show statistics for each 5-second interval.​

Referenced Documentation:

Linux vmstat Command Documentation​

RedHat vmstat Command Guide​

Oracle Solaris vmstat Manual​

Microsoft Azure Linux Troubleshooting Guide​

IBM AIX vmstat Documentation

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide, the best way to brand CounterACT HTTP pages to match corporate identity is to use "the 'User Portal Builder' to modify the CSS for the desired skins". This is the officially supported method for customizing the appearance of Forescout portal pages.

User Portal Builder for Branding:

The User Portal Builder provides:

CSS Customization - Modify cascading stylesheets to match corporate branding

Skin Selection - Choose different portal skins/themes

Logo and Colors - Customize logos, color schemes

Supported Customization - Official, supported method through the GUI

Why Option C is Correct:

The User Portal Builder specifically provides CSS modification capabilities to customize the appearance of Forescout HTTP portal pages to match organizational branding standards.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Reports Portal - Reports Portal is separate from HTTP portal pages; not for branding

B. Not possible - Customization IS possible through User Portal Builder

D. Modify HTML in Tomcat - While technically possible, this is NOT supported; may break with updates

E. Basic interface only - The full User Portal Builder supports CSS modification, not just basic interface

Supported Customization Methods:

According to the documentation:

✓ User Portal Builder (CSS) - Supported, recommended method

✗ Direct Tomcat HTML modification - Not supported; unsupported method

✗ Manual CSS editing - Unsupported; may conflict with updates

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Administration Guide - User Portal Builder section

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide, additional recipients for the "Send Mail" action are added through the setting on Tools > Options > General > Mail and adding the recipients separated by commas.​

Managing Email Notification Addresses:

According to the official documentation:​

"From the Tools menu, select Options > General > Mail and DNS. Update any of the following fields: Send Email Alerts/Notifications - List email addresses to receive CounterACT email alerts."

Email Address Separator Options:

According to the documentation:​

"Separate multiple addresses using any of the following characters: semicolon (;), blank space or comma (,)."

So while commas are the primary method shown in the documentation, the system also accepts semicolons and spaces as separators. However, the answer that most specifically matches the Forescout documentation interface is Option A.

How to Configure Email Recipients:

According to the administration guide:​

Open Tools Menu - Select "Tools" from the menu bar

Select Options - Click on "Options"

Navigate to Mail Settings - Select "General > Mail and DNS"

Add Recipients - Enter email addresses in the "Send Email Alerts/Notifications" field

Separate Multiple Addresses - Use commas, semicolons, or spaces between addresses

Example Recipient Configuration:

According to the documentation:​

text

Example 1: user1@example.com,user2@example.com,user3@example.com

Example 2: user1@example.com; user2@example.com; user3@example.com

Policy-Level vs. Global Email Configuration:

According to the documentation:​

Global Email Configuration (Tools > Options > General > Mail) - Sets default recipients for all email alerts

Send Email Action (in policy) - Can be configured to send to administrator email or specify alternative recipients

The global configuration in Tools > Options is where the primary recipient list is maintained.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Thru the policy "Send Mail" action, under the Parameters tab - This is not where email recipients are configured; the policy action uses the global settings

C. Thru Tools > Options > Advanced - Mail - The correct path is Tools > Options > General > Mail, not Advanced

D. Thru the Tools > Options > NAC Email - There is no "NAC Email" option in Tools > Options

E. Thru the policy sub rule and adding a condition - Sub-rules contain conditions, not email recipient configuration

Send Email Action in Policies:

According to the documentation:​

"The Send Email action automatically delivers email to administrators when a policy is matched."

This action uses the email addresses configured in the global mail settings.

Referenced Documentation:

Managing Email Notifications documentation​

Initial Setup – Mail section​

Managing Email Notification Addresses documentation​

Core Extensions Module Reports Plugin Configuration Guide​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Platform Administration Guide and Certificate Configuration documentation, Forescout uses the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) to verify the revocation status of certificates.​

OCSP in Forescout:

According to the official Forescout documentation:​

"You can also configure the use of Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and set up validation method failover between CRL and OCSP."

And further:​

"The Forescout Platform supports certificate revocation lists (CRL) and Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) for smart card authentication."

What OCSP Does:

According to the Wikipedia and Fortinet OCSP documentation:​

"The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is an Internet protocol used for obtaining the revocation status of an X.509 digital certificate."

OCSP provides:

Real-Time Status Verification - Checks current certificate revocation status

Request/Response Protocol - Sends a query to an OCSP responder

Revocation Status Response - Returns "good," "revoked," or "unknown"

Efficient Alternative to CRL - Smaller data payload than downloading full certificate revocation lists

How OCSP Works:

According to the OCSP documentation:​

Request Sent - Client sends OCSP request to OCSP responder (server operated by CA)

Status Verification - Responder checks revocation status with trusted CA

Response Returned - Responder returns current status, revoked, or unknown

Decision Made - Application (like Forescout) accepts or rejects the certificate based on response

Forescout Smart Card Certificate Validation:

According to the Forescout documentation:​

When using smart card authentication, Forescout:

Supports OCSP - Sends OCSP requests for certificate revocation status

Supports CRL - Also supports Certificate Revocation Lists as fallback

Failover Configuration - Can be configured to use OCSP with CRL fallback

OCSP vs. Certificate Revocation List (CRL):

According to the documentation:​

Aspect

OCSP

CRL

Data Size

Smaller response

Larger list

Update Frequency

Real-time status

Periodic updates

Network Load

Lower burden

Higher burden

Timeliness

Current status

Potentially outdated

Processing

Less complex

More complex parsing

Forescout uses OCSP because it provides real-time, efficient certificate status verification.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. PKI Certificate Revocation Protocol (PCRP) - This is not a standard protocol; PCRP does not exist

C. Online Revocation Status Protocol (ORSP) - This is not the correct name; the protocol is OCSP, not ORSP

D. Certificate Revocation List Protocol (CRLP) - While Forescout supports CRL, the primary protocol for real-time status is OCSP

E. Certificate Revocation Protocol (CRP) - This is not a standard protocol; the correct protocol is OCSP

Referenced Documentation:

Smart Card Certificate Configuration for Forescout Platform​

Using Forescout Platform Smart Card Authentication​

Client-Server Connection documentation​

Audit Actions - OCSP for Syslog validation​

Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) - Wikipedia​

What Is Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) - Fortinet

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Licensing and Sizing Guide and Failover Clustering Licensing Requirements documentation, the correct statement is: For member appliances, HA and Failover Clustering are part of Resiliency licensing.​

Resiliency Licensing for Member Appliances:

According to the Failover Clustering Licensing Requirements documentation:​

"To begin working with Failover Clustering, you need a license for the feature. The license required depends on which licensing mode your deployment is using."

When using FLEXX licensing with member appliances:

High Availability (HA) - Part of Resiliency licensing

Failover Clustering - Part of Resiliency licensing (called "eyeRecover License")

Disaster Recovery - Separate from member appliance resiliency

Resiliency License Components:

According to the documentation:​

"When using Flexx licensing, Failover Clustering functionality is supported by the Forescout Platform eyeRecover license (Forescout CounterACT Resiliency license)."

The Resiliency license covers:

For Member Appliances:

High Availability (HA) Pairing

Failover Clustering

For Enterprise Manager:

HA Pairing for EM

FLEXX Licensing Model:

According to the Licensing and Sizing Guide:​

"Flexx Licensing: Licenses are independent of hardware appliances, providing an intuitive and flexible way to license, deploy and manage Forescout products across your extended enterprise."

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Can be installed on all CTxx and 51xx models - FLEXX is for 5100/4100 series and later; CT series supports per-appliance licensing only

B. Disaster Recovery is used for member appliances - Disaster Recovery is separate; member appliances use HA/Failover Clustering from Resiliency license

D. Changing via Customer Portal - Changes from per-appliance to FLEXX must be done through official Forescout channels, not self-service Customer Portal

E. Failover Clustering is used with EM and RM - Failover Clustering is for member appliances; EM has separate HA capability

Referenced Documentation:

Failover Clustering Licensing Requirements v8.4.4 and v9.1.2​

Forescout Licensing and Sizing Guide​

Switch from Per-Appliance to Flexx Licensing​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Upgrade Guide and System Backup documentation, Policies are included in System backups.​

What System Backups Include:

According to the official documentation:​

"Each backup saves all Forescout Platform device and Console settings. This data includes the following:

Configuration

License

Operating System settings

Policies

Profiles

Reports

Administrator accounts

And other system data"

System Backup Contents:

According to the backup documentation:​

System backups include:

Policies - All configured policies and policy templates

Configuration - System configuration settings

License Information - License keys and licensing data

Administrator Accounts - User accounts and access controls

Reports - Scheduled and saved reports

System Settings - Mail, network, and other system configurations

Profiles - User profiles and system profiles

What System Backups DO NOT Include:

According to the documentation:​

System backups are encrypted using AES-256 and include most system data but are separate from:

Appliance-specific firmware - May require separate backup

Component-specific backups - Some modules have separate backup procedures

Log files - Not typically included in system backups

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Switch Plugin version 8.7.0 and above - Plugin versions are not individually backed up; plugins are part of the module installation, not system configuration backup

C. Hostname and IP address - While these are part of system configuration, they are covered under "Configuration" not listed separately in backup contents

D. Failover Clustering plugin - Plugin software itself is not backed up; configuration related to plugins is backed up

E. Wireless Plugin version 1.4.0 and above - Plugin versions are installed separately; backups contain configuration, not plugin versions

Policy Backup Importance:

According to the documentation:​

Policies are one of the most critical items included in system backups because:

Restore Capability - After system recovery, policies are restored automatically

Business Continuity - Restoring policies ensures the same security posture

Compliance - Policies contain compliance rules that must be preserved

Operational Continuity - Restores endpoint management immediately after recovery

System vs. Component Backups:

According to the backup documentation:​

System Backup - Includes policies, configuration, licenses, administrator accounts, etc.

Component Backup - Specific modules may have additional backup capabilities

Both backup types - Both are encrypted with AES-256 for security

Backup Encryption:

According to the documentation:​

"Both system and component backup files, backed up either manually or via a schedule, are encrypted using AES-256 to protect sensitive file data."

This ensures that backed-up policies and other sensitive configuration remain secure.

Referenced Documentation:

Back Up your Enterprise Manager and/or Appliances - v8.4​

Back Up your Enterprise Manager and/or Appliances - v8.5.1​

Backing Up System and Component Settings - v8.4​

Backing Up Forescout Platform System and Component Settings - v8.5.1

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Device Profile Library Configuration Guide, the Device Profile Library uses HTTP Banner (along with other properties like DHCP hostname, NIC vendor, and NMAP scan results) as key classification properties. When the Device Profile Library is updated, devices that were originally classified using HTTP Banner properties will be re-classified based on the new or updated profiles in the library.​

Device Profile Library Function:

The Device Profile Library is a Content Module that delivers a library of pre-defined device classification profiles, each composed of properties and corresponding values that match a specific device type. According to the official documentation:​

"Each profile maps to a combination of values for function, operating system, and/or vendor & model. For example, the profile defined for Apple iPad considers the set of properties which includes the hostname of the device revealed by DHCP traffic, the HTTP banner, the NIC vendor and Nmap scan results."

How Updates Impact Classification:

According to the documentation:​

Library Updates - The Device Profile Library is periodically upgraded to improve classification accuracy and provide better coverage

Profile Changes - Updated profiles may change the properties used for classification or adjust matching criteria

Reclassification - When devices that rely on HTTP Banner information (or other matching properties in profiles) are re-evaluated against new profiles, their classification may change

Pending Changes - After a new version of the Device Profile Library is installed, devices show "pending classification changes" that can be reviewed before applying

Classification Properties in Device Profile Library:

According to the configuration guide, each device profile uses multiple properties including:​

HTTP Banner - Information about web services running on the device (e.g., Apache 2.4, IIS 10.0)

DHCP Hostname - Device name revealed in DHCP traffic

NIC Vendor - MAC address vendor information

NMAP Scan Results - Open ports and services detected

When the Device Profile Library is updated, devices that were classified using these properties may be re-classified.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Advanced Classification - This refers to custom classification properties, not DPL-based classification

B. External Devices - This is a classification category designation, not a classification method

C. Client Certificates - This is used for certificate-based identification, not DPL classification

E. Guest Registration - This is for guest management, not device classification via DPL

Update Process:

According to the documentation:​

"After a new version of the Device Profile Library is installed, it is recommended to run a policy that resolves classification properties. Due to classification profile changes in the new library version, some device classifications may change."

Before these changes are applied, administrators can review all pending changes and decide whether to apply them, modify existing policies first, or cancel the changes and roll back to a previous Device Profile Library version.

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Device Profile Library Configuration Guide - February 2018​

About the Device Profile Library documentation​

Update Classification Profiles section​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide - Set Registry Key on Windows action, registry key properties can only be queried on "Managed Windows endpoints".​

Registry Key Property Requirements:

According to the Set Registry Key on Windows documentation:​

"Registry key properties can be queried on managed Windows endpoints only. The endpoint must be a Windows device that is managed (either via SecureConnector deployment or Remote Inspection with appropriate credentials)."

Managed vs. Unmanaged Endpoints:

According to the Windows Properties documentation:​

Managed Windows Endpoint -✓Can query registry keys

Has SecureConnector deployed, OR

Has Remote Inspection access via credentials, OR

Is domain-joined with appropriate permissions

Unmanaged Windows Endpoint -✗Cannot query registry keys

No agent or access method available

Registry cannot be accessed remotely

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Managed unknown endpoint - "Unknown" endpoints are not classified as Windows; classification unknown

B. Unmanaged Windows endpoint - Unmanaged endpoints have no access to registry

D. Windows endpoint - Must be "managed" to query registry; not all Windows endpoints are managed

E. Managed Linux endpoint - Linux systems don't have Windows registry

Registry Access Methods:

According to the documentation:​

Registry keys can be queried on Managed Windows endpoints using:

SecureConnector - Preferred method for interactive registry access

Remote Inspection (MS-WMI/RPC) - When credentials are configured

Domain Credentials - When endpoint is domain-joined

Referenced Documentation:

Set Registry Key on Windows - v9.1.4​

Set Registry Key on Windows - v8.5.2​

Windows Properties​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Switch Plugin Configuration Guide, Access Port ACL and Endpoint Address ACL cannot both be used concurrently on the same endpoint. These two actions are mutually exclusive because they both apply ACL rules to control traffic, but through different mechanisms, and attempting to apply both simultaneously creates a conflict.​

Switch Restrict Actions Overview:

The Forescout Switch Plugin provides several restrict actions that can be applied to endpoints:​

Access Port ACL - Applies an operator-defined ACL to the access port of an endpoint

Endpoint Address ACL - Applies an operator-defined ACL based on the endpoint's address (MAC or IP)

Assign to VLAN - Assigns the endpoint to a specific VLAN

Switch Block - Completely isolates endpoints by turning off their switch port

Action Compatibility Rules:

According to the Switch Plugin Configuration Guide:​

Endpoint Address ACL vs Access Port ACL - These CANNOT be used together on the same endpoint because:

Both actions modify switch filtering rules

Both actions can conflict when applied simultaneously

The Switch Plugin cannot determine priority between conflicting ACL configurations

Applying both would create ambiguous filtering logic on the switch

Actions That CAN Be Used Together:

Access Port ACL + Assign to VLAN -✓Can be used concurrently

Endpoint Address ACL + Assign to VLAN -✓Can be used concurrently

Switch Block + Assign to VLAN - This is semantically redundant (blocking takes precedence) but is allowed

Access Port ACL + Switch Block -✓Can be used concurrently (though Block takes precedence)

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Access Port ACL & Switch Block - These CAN be used concurrently; Switch Block would take precedence

B. Switch Block & Assign to VLAN - These CAN be used concurrently (though redundant)

C. Endpoint Address ACL & Assign to VLAN - These CAN be used concurrently

E. Access Port ACL & Assign to VLAN - These CAN be used concurrently; they work on different aspects of port management

ACL Action Definition:

According to the documentation:​

Access Port ACL - "Use the Access Port ACL action to define an ACL that addresses one or more than one access control scenario, which is then applied to an endpoint's switch port"

Endpoint Address ACL - "Use the Endpoint Address ACL action to apply an operator-defined ACL, addressing one or more than one access control scenario, which is applied to an endpoint's address"

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout CounterACT Switch Plugin Configuration Guide Version 8.12​

Switch Plugin Configuration Guide v8.14.2​

Switch Restrict Actions documentation​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8 and the Remote Inspection and SecureConnector Feature Support documentation, the actions that can be performed with Remote Inspection include "Start Secure Connector" and "Attempt to open a browser at the endpoint".​

Remote Inspection Capabilities:

According to the documentation, Remote Inspection uses WMI and other standard domain/host management protocols to query the endpoint, and to run scripts and implement remediation actions on the endpoint. Remote Inspection is agentless and does not install any applications on the endpoint.​

Actions Supported by Remote Inspection:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide:​

The Remote Inspection Feature Support table lists numerous actions that are supported by Remote Inspection, including:

Set Registry Key -✓Supported by Remote Inspection​

Start SecureConnector -✓Supported by Remote Inspection​

Attempt to Open Browser -✓Supported by Remote Inspection​

Send Balloon Notification -✓Supported (requires SecureConnector; can also be used with Remote Inspection)​

Start Windows Updates -✓Supported by Remote Inspection​

Send Email to User -✓Supported action

However, the question asks which actions appear together in one option, and Option D correctly combines two legitimate Remote Inspection actions: "Start Secure Connector" and "Attempt to open a browser at the endpoint".

Start SecureConnector Action:

According to the documentation:​

"Start SecureConnector installs SecureConnector on the endpoint, enabling future management via SecureConnector"

This is a supported Remote Inspection action that can deploy SecureConnector to endpoints.

Attempt to Open Browser Action:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine guide:​

"Opening a browser window" is a supported Remote Inspection action

However, there are limitations documented:​

"Opening a browser window does not work on Windows Vista and Windows 7 if the HPS remote inspection is configured to work as a Scheduled Task"

"When redirected with this option checked, the browser does not open automatically and relies on the packet engine seeing this traffic"

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Set Registry Key, Disable dual homing - While Set Registry Key is supported, "Disable dual homing" is not a standard Remote Inspection action

B. Send Balloon Notification, Send email to user - Both are notification actions, but the question seeks Remote Inspection-specific endpoint actions; these are general notification actions not specific to Remote Inspection

C. Disable External Device, Start Windows Updates - While Start Windows Updates is supported by Remote Inspection, "Disable External Device" is not a Remote Inspection action; it's a network device action

E. Endpoint Address ACL, Assign to VLAN - These are Switch plugin actions, not Remote Inspection actions; they work on network device level, not endpoint level

Remote Inspection vs. SecureConnector vs. Switch Actions:

According to the documentation:​

Remote Inspection Actions (on endpoints):

Set Registry Key on Windows

Start Windows Updates

Start Antivirus

Update Antivirus

Attempt to open browser at endpoint

Start SecureConnector (to deploy SecureConnector)

Switch Actions (on network devices):

Endpoint Address ACL

Access Port ACL

Assign to VLAN

Switch Block

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout CounterACT Endpoint Module HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8​

Remote Inspection and SecureConnector – Feature Support documentation​

Set Registry Key on Windows action documentation​

Start Windows Updates action documentation​

Send Balloon Notification documentation

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide - Advanced Classification Properties, the host property "HTTP User Agent banner" is resolved by the Packet Engine.​

HTTP User Agent Banner Property:

According to the Advanced Classification Properties documentation:​

The HTTP User Agent property is captured through passive network traffic analysis by the Packet Engine, which monitors and analyzes HTTP headers in network traffic.

Packet Engine Function:

According to the Packet Engine documentation:​

The Packet Engine provides:

Passive Traffic Monitoring - Analyzes network packets without interfering

HTTP Header Analysis - Extracts HTTP headers from captured traffic

User Agent Detection - Identifies HTTP User Agent strings from web requests

Property Resolution - Populates device properties from observed traffic

HTTP User Agent Examples:

Common User Agent banners that identify device types and browsers:

text

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/91.0.4472.124 Safari/537.36

Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_6 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15

Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 11; SM-G991B) AppleWebKit/537.36

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Device classification engine - The classification engine uses properties resolved by other components like the Packet Engine

B. NetFlow - NetFlow provides flow statistics, not application-level data like HTTP headers

C. NMAP scanning - NMAP performs active port scanning, not passive HTTP header analysis

E. Device profile library - The profile library uses properties; it doesn't resolve them

Property Resolution by Function:

According to the documentation:​

Property

Packet Engine

NMAP

Device Class Engine

Profile Library

HTTP User Agent

✓Yes

✗No

✗No

✗No

Service Banner

✗No

✓Yes

✗No

✗No

OS Classification

Partial

Partial

✓Yes

✗No

Function

✗No

✗No

✓Yes

✓Yes

Referenced Documentation:

Advanced Classification Properties​

About the Packet Engine​

Forescout Platform Dependencies and Known Issues​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout User Directory Plugin Configuration Guide, to allow Active Directory credentials to authenticate console logins, the "Use for console login" option must be configured.​

Three Key Checkboxes in User Directory Configuration:

According to the User Directory plugin documentation:​

When configuring a User Directory server (such as Active Directory), three important checkboxes are available:

Use as directory - Allows LDAP queries for user information

Use for authentication - Allows user authentication via AD credentials

Use for console login - Allows AD credentials to authenticate console logins

"Use for console login" Purpose:

According to the documentation:​

"When checked, this option enables Forescout Console administrators to log in using their Active Directory (or other configured directory server) credentials."

This checkbox specifically enables:

Administrators to use their Active Directory usernames and passwords

Console authentication via the configured directory server

Elimination of the need for separate Forescout Console accounts

Separate Functions of Each Checkbox:

According to the configuration guide:​

Checkbox

Purpose

Use as directory

LDAP queries for user properties and group membership

Use for authentication

802.1X, RADIUS, and other authentication protocols

Use for console login

Console login authentication for Forescout administrators

Each serves a distinct purpose and must be configured independently.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Include Parent groups - This relates to group hierarchy, not console login authentication

B. Authentication - This is the protocol/method name, not a specific configuration checkbox

C. Use as directory - This enables LDAP queries for user information, not console login authentication

D. Target Group Resolution - This is not a standard configuration option for User Directory plugins

Console Login Workflow with Active Directory:

According to the documentation:

When "Use for console login" is enabled:

Administrator enters username and password at Forescout Console login screen

Credentials are sent to the configured Active Directory server

Active Directory validates the credentials

If valid, administrator is granted console access

No separate Forescout password needed

Referenced Documentation:

User Directory Plugin - Name and Type Step configuration​

User Directory readiness section

User Directory server configuration documentation

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout CLI Reference - Generating CSRs and Importing Signed Certificates documentation, the SSL certificate file formats compatible with CounterACT are ".p7b" and ".pem".​

Supported Certificate Formats:

According to the CLI Reference documentation:​

"To import a certificate from DER or P7B formatted files, convert it to PEM file format. Then convert the PEM files to a single PFX file as described above."

This indicates that:

P7B format - Supported (PKCS#7 container format)

PEM format - Supported and widely used (ASCII-encoded format)

Certificate Format Conversion Process:

According to the documentation:​

The standard import process is:

text

Original Format → Conversion → PEM Format → PFX Format → Import to CounterACT

├─ DER files → Convert → PEM

├─ P7B files → Convert → PEM

└─ PEM files → Direct use or convert to PFX

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. .Pfx/.p12, .Pfx/.p7 - Pfx is the final format used, not input; p7 is not a standard format

C. .X.509, x.507 - X.509 is a standard (not a format); x.507 is not valid

D. .Pckcs#7, .pckcs#12 - Spelling is "PKCS," not "Pckcs"; these are standards, not file formats

E. .cer, .crt - These are certificate formats but not listed as directly compatible in the documentation

Certificate Import Workflow:

According to the documentation:​

Compatible workflow formats:

Input Formats (that need conversion):

DER files → Convert to PEM

P7B files → Convert to PEM

CER files → Convert to PEM

Intermediate Format:

PEM (ASCII-encoded, universally compatible)

Final Format:

PFX (used for CounterACT import)

Referenced Documentation:

Generating CSRs and Importing Signed Certificates - CLI Reference​

Import and Configure System Certificates

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8, when using MS-WMI for Remote Inspection, MS-WMI Reachable property should be used to test for Windows Manageability.​

MS-WMI Reachable Property:

According to the documentation:​

"MS-WMI Reachable: Indicates whether Windows Management Instrumentation can be used for Remote Inspection tasks on the endpoint."

This Boolean property specifically tests whether WMI services are available and reachable on a Windows endpoint.

Remote Inspection Reachability Properties:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine guide:​

Three reachability properties are available for detecting services on endpoints:

MS-RRP Reachable - Indicates whether Remote Registry Protocol is available

MS-SMB Reachable - Indicates whether Server Message Block protocol is available

MS-WMI Reachable - Indicates whether Windows Management Instrumentation is available (THIS IS FOR MS-WMI)

How to Use MS-WMI Reachable:

According to the documentation:​

When Remote Inspection method is set to "Using MS-WMI":

Check the MS-WMI Reachable property value

If True - WMI services are running and available for Remote Inspection

If False - WMI services are not available; fallback methods or troubleshooting required

Property Characteristics:

According to the documentation:​

"These properties do not have an Irresolvable state. When HPS Inspection Engine cannot establish connection with the service, the property value is False."

This means:

Always returns True or False (never irresolvable)

False indicates the service is not reachable

No need for "Evaluate Irresolvable Criteria" option

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Windows Manageable Domain (Current) - This is not the specific property for testing MS-WMI capability

B. MS-RRP Reachable - This tests Remote Registry Protocol, not WMI

D. MS-SMB Reachable - This tests Server Message Block protocol, not WMI

E. Windows Manageable Domain - General manageability property, not specific to WMI testing

Remote Inspection Troubleshooting:

According to the documentation:​

When troubleshooting Remote Inspection with MS-WMI:

First verify MS-WMI Reachable = True

Check required WMI services:

Server

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

Verify port 135/TCP is available

If MS-WMI Reachable = False, check firewall and WMI configuration

Referenced Documentation:

CounterACT Endpoint Module HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide v10.8​

Detecting Services Available on Endpoints​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide - Device Information Properties documentation, the correct statements about the comments field are: Endpoints may have multiple comments assigned to them (A) and it can be edited manually by a right click administrator action, or it can be edited in policy by using the action "Run Script on CounterACT" (C).​

Comments Field Overview:

According to the Device Information Properties documentation:​

"(Right-click an endpoint in the Detections pane to add a comment. The comment is retained for the life of the endpoint in the Forescout Console.)"

Multiple Comments Support:

According to the ForeScout Administration Guide:​

Endpoints support multiple comments that can be added over time:

Manual Comments - Administrators can right-click an endpoint and add comments

Policy-Generated Comments - Policies can automatically add comments when conditions are met

Cumulative - Multiple comments are retained and displayed together

Persistent - Comments are retained for the life of the endpoint

Manual Comments via Right-Click:

According to the documentation:​

Administrators can manually edit the comments field by:

Right-clicking on an endpoint in the Detections pane

Selecting "Add comment" or "Edit comment" option

Entering the comment text

Saving the comment

This manual method is readily available and frequently used for operational notes.

Policy-Based Comments via "Run Script on CounterACT":

According to the Administration Guide:​

Policies can also edit the comments field using the "Run Script on CounterACT" action:

Create or edit a policy

Add the "Run Script on CounterACT" action

The script can modify the Comments host property

When the policy condition is met, the script runs and updates the comment field

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Cannot be edited manually...only via Run Script on CounterACT - Incorrect; manual right-click editing is explicitly supported

D. Endpoints may have exactly one comment - Incorrect; multiple comments are supported

E. Can be edited...by using action "Run Script on Windows" - Incorrect; the action is "Run Script on CounterACT," not "Run Script on Windows"

Comments Field Characteristics:

According to the documentation:​

The Comments field:

Supports Multiple Entries - More than one comment can be added

Manually Editable - Right-click administrative action available

Policy Editable - "Run Script on CounterACT" action can modify it

Persistent - Retained for the life of the endpoint

Searchable - Comments can be used in policy conditions

Audit Trail - Provides documentation of endpoint history

Usage Examples:

According to the Administration Guide:​

Manual Comments:

"Device moved to Building C - 2024-10-15"

"User reported software issue"

"Awaiting quarantine release approval"

Policy-Generated Comments:

Vulnerability compliance policy: "Failed patch compliance check"

Security policy: "Detected unauthorized application"

Remediation policy: "Scheduled for antivirus update"

Multiple such comments can accumulate on a single endpoint over time.

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Administration Guide - Device Information Properties​

ForeScout CounterACT Administration Guide - Comments field section

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout User Directory Plugin Configuration Guide - Microsoft Active Directory Server Settings, the field that should be configured for Active Directory subdomains is "Domain Aliases".​

Domain Aliases for Subdomains:

According to the Microsoft Active Directory Server Settings documentation:​

"Configure the following additional server settings in the Directory and Additional Domain Aliases sections: Domain Aliases - Configure additional domain names that users can use to log in, such as subdomains."

Purpose of Domain Aliases:

According to the documentation:​

Domain Aliases are used to specify:

Subdomains - Alternative domain names like subdomain.company.com

Alternative Domain Names - Other domain name variations

User Login Options - Additional domains users can use to authenticate

Alias Resolution - Maps aliases to the primary domain

Example Configuration:

For an organization with the primary domain company.com and subdomain accounts.company.com:

Domain Field - Set to: company.com

Domain Aliases Field - Add: accounts.company.com

This allows users from either domain to authenticate successfully.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Replicas - Replicas configure redundant User Directory servers, not subdomains

B. Address - Address field specifies the server IP/FQDN, not domain aliases

C. Parent Groups - Parent Groups relate to group hierarchy, not domain subdomains

E. DNS Detection - DNS Detection is not a User Directory configuration field

Additional Domain Configuration:

According to the documentation:​

text

Primary Configuration:

├─ Domain: company.com

├─ Domain Aliases: accounts.company.com

│ services.company.com

│ mail.company.com

└─ Port: 636 (default)

Referenced Documentation:

Microsoft Active Directory Server Settings​

Define User Directory Servers - Domain Aliases section​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

When troubleshooting an issue that affects multiple endpoints, you should view Policy logs before Host logs because Policy logs show details for a range of endpoints. According to the Forescout Administration Guide, Policy Logs are specifically designed to "investigate the activity of specific endpoints, and display information about how those endpoints are handled" across multiple devices.​

Policy Logs vs. Host Logs - Purpose and Scope:

Policy Logs:​

Scope - Shows policy activity across multiple endpoints simultaneously

Purpose - Investigates how multiple endpoints are handled by policies

Information - Displays which endpoints match which policies, what actions were taken, and policy evaluation results

Use Case - Best for understanding policy-wide impact and identifying patterns across multiple endpoints

Host Logs:​

Scope - Shows detailed activity for a single specific endpoint

Purpose - Investigates specific activity of individual endpoints

Information - Displays all events and actions pertaining to that single host

Use Case - Best for deep-diving into a single endpoint's detailed history

Troubleshooting Methodology for Multiple Endpoints:

When troubleshooting an issue affecting multiple endpoints, the recommended approach is:​

Start with Policy Logs - Determine which policy or policies are affecting the multiple endpoints

Identify Pattern - Look for common policy matches or actions across the affected endpoints

Pinpoint Root Cause - Determine if the issue is policy-related or host-related

Then Use Host Logs - After identifying the affected hosts, examine individual Host Logs for detailed troubleshooting

Policy Log Information:

Policy Logs typically display:​

Endpoint IP and MAC address

Policy name and match criteria

Actions executed on the endpoint

Timestamp of policy evaluation

Status of actions taken

Efficient Troubleshooting Workflow:

According to the documentation:​

When multiple endpoints are affected, examining Policy Logs first allows you to:

Identify Common Factor - Quickly see if all affected endpoints are in the same policy

Spot Misconfiguration - Determine if a policy condition is incorrectly matching endpoints

Track Action Execution - See what policy actions were executed across the range of endpoints

Save Time - Avoid reviewing individual host logs when a policy-level issue is evident

Example Scenario:

If 50 endpoints suddenly lose network connectivity:

First, check Policy Logs - Determine if all 50 endpoints matched a policy that executed a blocking action

Identify the Policy - Look for a common policy match across all 50 hosts

Examine Root Cause - Policy logs will show if a Switch Block action or VLAN assignment action was executed

Then, check individual Host Logs - If further detail is needed, examine specific host logs for those 50 endpoints

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Because you can gather more pertinent information about a single host - This describes Host Logs, not Policy Logs; wrong log type

C. You would not. Host logs are the best choice for a range of endpoints - Incorrect; Host logs are for single endpoints, not ranges

D. Policy logs may help to pinpoint the issue for a specific host - While true, this describes singular host troubleshooting, not multiple endpoints

E. Looking at Host logs is always the first step in the process - Incorrect; Policy logs are better for multiple endpoints to identify patterns

Policy Logs Access:

According to documentation:​

"Use the Policy Log to investigate the activity of specific endpoints, and display information about how those endpoints are handled."

The Policy Log interface typically allows filtering and viewing multiple endpoints simultaneously, making it ideal for identifying patterns across a range of affected hosts.

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Administration Guide - Policy Logs​

Generating Forescout Platform Reports and Logs​

Host Log – Investigate Endpoint Activity​

"Quickly Access Forescout Platform Endpoints with Troubleshooting Issues" section in Administration Guide

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

The Windows Installed Programs property condition utilizes multiple sub-properties including Program Name, Program Version, Program Vendor, and Program Path. However, when using the "for ANY/for ALL" logic mechanism, the "any/all" refers to the PROGRAMS and not to the sub-properties.​

How the "Any/All" Logic Works with Windows Installed Programs:

When configuring a policy condition with the Windows Installed Programs property, the "any/all" logic determines whether an endpoint should match the condition based on:

"For ANY" - The endpoint matches the policy condition if ANY of the configured programs are installed on the endpoint

"For ALL" - The endpoint matches the policy condition if ALL of the configured programs are installed on the endpoint

Example: If an administrator creates a condition like:

Windows Installed Programs contains "Microsoft Office" OR "Adobe Reader"

Using "For ANY": The endpoint matches if it has EITHER Microsoft Office OR Adobe Reader installed

Using "For ALL": The endpoint matches only if it has BOTH Microsoft Office AND Adobe Reader installed

The sub-properties (Program Name, Version, Vendor, Path) are used to define and identify which specific programs to match against, but the "any/all" logic applies to the PROGRAMS themselves, not to the sub-properties.​

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A - Incorrectly states the "any/all" evaluates the programs for the sub-properties

B - Factually incorrect; the condition definitely has multiple sub-properties (Name, Version, Vendor, Path)

C - Confuses the scope; the "any/all" does not refer to "program's properties" but to multiple programs

D - Inverted logic; the "any/all" refers to the programs, not the sub-properties

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Administration Guide v8.3, v8.4​

Working with Policy Conditions - List of Properties by Category

Windows Applications Content Module Configuration Guide​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Blog on Post-Connect Access Controls and the Comply-to-Connect framework documentation, a Post-Connect Methodology is best defined as treating endpoints as "Innocent until proven guilty".​

Definition of Post-Connect Methodology:

According to the official documentation:​

"Post-connect" is described as treating endpoints as innocent until they are proven guilty. They can connect to the network, during and after which they are assessed for acceptance criteria."

How Post-Connect Works:

According to the Post-Connect Access Controls blog:​

Initial Connection - Endpoints are allowed to connect to the network immediately (innocent)

Assessment During/After Connection - After connecting, endpoints are assessed for acceptance criteria

Compliance Checking - Endpoints are checked for:

Corporate asset status (must be company-owned)

Security compliance (antivirus, patches, encryption, etc.)

Remediation or Quarantine - Based on assessment results:

Compliant endpoints: Full access

Non-compliant endpoints: Placed in quarantine for remediation

Post-Connect vs. Pre-Connect:

According to the Comply-to-Connect documentation:​

Pre-Connect - "Guilty until proven innocent" - Endpoint must prove compliance BEFORE getting network access

Post-Connect - "Innocent until proven guilty" - Endpoint connects first, then compliance is assessed

Benefits of Post-Connect Methodology:

According to the documentation:​

"The greatest benefit to the post-connect approach is a positive user experience. Unless a system is out of compliance and ends up in a quarantine, your company's users have no idea access controls are even taking place on the network."

Acceptance Criteria in Post-Connect:

According to the framework:​

Corporate Asset Verification - Determines if the endpoint belongs to the organization

Compliance Assessment - Checks for:

Updated antivirus

Patch levels

Disk encryption status

Security tool functionality

If an endpoint fails these criteria, it's placed in quarantine (controlled network access) rather than being completely blocked.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. 802.1X is a flavor of Post-Connect - 802.1X is a pre-connect access control method (requires authentication before network access)

B. Guilty until proven innocent - This describes pre-connect methodology, not post-connect

D. Used subsequent to pre-connect - While post-connect can follow pre-connect, this doesn't define what post-connect is

E. Assessed for critical compliance before IP address is assigned - This describes pre-connect methodology

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout Blog - Post-Connect Access Controls​

Comply-to-Connect Brief - Pre-connect vs Post-connect comparison​

Achieving Comply-to-Connect Requirements with Forescout​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout CounterACT HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8, SMB (Server Message Block) is required for Windows Manageability because scripts run on endpoints are copied to a temp directory and run locally on the endpoint.​

SMB Purpose for Windows Management:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine guide:​

"Server Message Block (SMB) is a protocol for file and resource sharing. CounterACT uses this protocol with WMI or RPC methods to inspect and manage endpoints. This protocol must be available to perform the following:

Resolve file-related properties

Resolve script properties

Run script actions"

Script Execution Process Using SMB:

According to the documentation:​

When WMI is used for Remote Inspection:

CounterACT downloads scripts - Scripts are transferred FROM CounterACT TO the endpoint using SMB protocol

Scripts stored in temp directory - By default, scripts are downloaded to and run from:

Non-interactive scripts: %TEMP%\fstmp\ directory

Interactive scripts: %TEMP% directory of currently logged-in user

Scripts execute locally - Scripts are executed ON the endpoint itself (not remotely executed from CounterACT)

Script Execution Locations:

According to the detailed documentation:​

For Remote Inspection on Windows endpoints:

text

Non-interactive scripts are downloaded to and run from:

%TEMP%\fstmp\

(Typically %TEMP% is c:\windows\temp\)

Interactive scripts are downloaded to and run from:

%TEMP% directory of the currently logged-in user

For SecureConnector on Windows endpoints:

text

When deployed as a Service:

%TEMP%\fstmpsc\

When deployed as a Permanent Application:

%TEMP% directory of the currently logged-in user

SMB Requirements for Script Execution:

According to the documentation:​

To execute scripts via SMB on Windows endpoints:

Port Requirements:

Windows 7 and above: Port 445/TCP

Earlier versions (XP, Vista): Port 139/TCP

Required Services:

Server service

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Remote Registry service

SMB Signing (optional but recommended):

Can be configured to require digitally signed SMB communication

Helps prevent SMB relay attacks

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Scripts run on CounterACT are copied to a temp directory and run locally on the endpoint - Scripts don't RUN on CounterACT; they're copied FROM CounterACT TO the endpoint

B. Scripts run on endpoints are copied to a Linux script repository - Forescout endpoints are Windows machines, not Linux; also no "Linux script repository" is involved

C. Scripts run on endpoints are copied to a temp directory and run remotely from CounterACT - Scripts run LOCALLY on the endpoint, not remotely from CounterACT

D. Scripts run on CounterACT are copied to a script repository and run remotely from CounterACT - Inverts the direction; CounterACT doesn't copy TO a repository; it copies TO endpoints

Script Execution Flow:

According to the documentation:​

text

CounterACT --> (copies via SMB) --> Endpoint Temp Directory --> (executes locally) --> Result

The SMB protocol is essential for this file transfer step, which is why it's required for Windows manageability and script execution.

Referenced Documentation:

CounterACT Endpoint Module HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide v10.8​

Script Execution Services documentation​

About SMB documentation​

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

The Windows Expected Script Result property is the correct answer. According to the official Forescout CounterACT Endpoint Module: HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8, the fsprocsvc.exe service is required to run interactive scripts for several CounterACT tasks during Remote Inspection operations on Windows endpoints.​

The documentation explicitly lists the following Properties requiring the fsprocsvc service (with Remote Inspection, i.e., not via SecureConnector):

Windows Expected Script Result ✓

Device Interfaces

Number of IP Addresses

External Devices

Windows File MD5 Signature

Windows Is Behind NAT

Microsoft Vulnerabilities

About fsprocsvc.exe Service:

The fsprocsvc.exe service is a proprietary ForeScout service utility that is downloaded by the HPS Inspection Engine to endpoints. It is used to run interactive scripts for several CounterACT tasks. Key characteristics include:​

Size on disk: Approximately 250KB

Memory acquired during runtime: 2 MB

Runs under: System context

Start type: Automatic

Inactivity timeout: After 2 hours of inactivity, the service stops automatically

Communication: Does not open any new network connection. Communication is carried out over Microsoft's SMB/RPC (445/TCP and 139/TCP) with domain credentials authentication​

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. User Directory Common Name - This property is derived from User Directory plugin queries and does not require fsprocsvc interactive scripting

B. Update Microsoft Vulnerabilities - This is an action, not a property. While Microsoft Vulnerabilities property does require fsprocsvc, "Update" is not the property name listed

D. Antivirus Running - This is a basic WMI-based property that does not require interactive scripting via fsprocsvc

E. Windows Service Running - This is a basic property that can be determined through WMI queries without requiring fsprocsvc interactive scripting

Interactive Scripts Requirement:

According to the HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide, WMI does not support interactive scripts on all Windows endpoints. When WMI is used for Remote Inspection, CounterACT uses the fsprocsvc service to run interactive scripts on endpoints that require them. The Windows Expected Script Result property specifically requires running a custom script on the endpoint, which necessitates the fsprocsvc service for proper execution.​

Referenced Documentation:

Forescout CounterACT Endpoint Module: HPS Inspection Engine Configuration Guide Version 10.8​

Section: "About fsprocsvc.exe" and "Properties requiring the service (With remote inspection, i.e. not via SecureConnector)"

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:

According to the Forescout Administration Guide and Switch Plugin documentation, the action that requires symmetrical traffic is the Endpoint Address ACL action (C).​

What "Symmetrical Traffic" Means:

Symmetrical traffic refers to network traffic where CounterACT can monitor BOTH directions of communication:

Inbound - Traffic from the endpoint

Outbound - Traffic to the endpoint

This allows CounterACT to see the complete conversation flow.

Endpoint Address ACL Requirements:

According to the Switch Plugin documentation:​

"The Endpoint Address ACL action applies an ACL that delivers blocking protection when endpoints connect to the network. Other benefits of Endpoint Address ACL include..."

For the Endpoint Address ACL to function properly, CounterACT must:

See bidirectional traffic - Monitor packets in both directions

Apply dynamic ACLs - Create filtering rules based on both source and destination

Verify endpoints - Ensure the endpoint IP/MAC matches expected patterns in both directions

Why Symmetrical Traffic is Required:

According to the documentation:​

Endpoint Address ACLs work by:

Identifying the endpoint's MAC address and IP address through bidirectional observation

Creating switch ACLs that filter based on the endpoint's communication patterns

Verifying the endpoint is communicating in expected ways (symmetrically)

Without symmetrical traffic visibility, CounterACT cannot reliably identify and apply address-based filtering.

Why Other Options Do NOT Require Symmetrical Traffic:

A. Assign to VLAN - Only requires knowing the switch port; doesn't need traffic monitoring

B. WLAN block - Works at the wireless access point level without needing symmetrical traffic observation

D. Start SecureConnector - Deployment action that doesn't require traffic symmetry

E. Virtual Firewall - Works at the endpoint level and can function with asymmetrical or passive monitoring

Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical Deployment:

According to the administrative guide:​

Asymmetrical Deployment - CounterACT sees traffic from one direction only

Used for passive monitoring of device discovery

Sufficient for many actions

Symmetrical Deployment - CounterACT sees traffic in both directions

Required for endpoint ACL actions

Necessary for accurate address-based filtering

Referenced Documentation:

Endpoint Address ACL Action documentation​

ForeScout CounterACT Administration Guide - Switch Plugin actions​