In a centralized Forescout deployment, the Appliance(s) are located in a central data center and manage endpoints at remote sites across a Wide Area Network (WAN). When the central Appliance performs intensive tasks, such as vulnerability assessments or software checks on endpoints at a remote location, all the associated network traffic must traverse the WAN. This can consume a significant amount of bandwidth, potentially impacting the performance of other business-critical applications that rely on the same WAN link. This bandwidth impact is a primary consideration when designing a centralized architecture.

B: Enhanced IPS and HTTP actions are features related to specific Forescout modules or integrations with third-party devices, not a characteristic of the centralized deployment model itself.

C: A distributed model is generally considered more optimal for threat protection at remote sites, as local appliances can detect and respond to threats without WAN latency or bandwidth limitations.

D: An Appliance can be deployed in-line (acting as a Layer-2 bridge) or out-of-band, but this is a network connection method, not a defining characteristic of the overall centralized architecture.

E: Having an appliance at every site is the definition of a distributed deployment model, which is the alternative to a centralized deployment.

1. Forescout Platform Installation Guide, Version 8.2.2, Chapter 2: Deployment Planning, Section: "Deployment Options", Page 21.

The guide states for a Centralized Deployment: "Appliances at a central location monitor and manage endpoints at remote sites over the WAN. This deployment is easier to manage, but it can have a significant impact on WAN bandwidth." This directly supports the correct answer (A).

2. Forescout Platform Installation Guide, Version 8.2.2, Chapter 2: Deployment Planning, Section: "Distributed Deployment", Page 21.

The guide describes a Distributed Deployment as having "An Appliance at each remote site monitors and manages endpoints at that site. This deployment has a minimal impact on WAN bandwidth..." This confirms that option (E) describes a distributed, not centralized, deployment.