Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract of Forescout Platform Administration and Deployment:
The Sponsor Group is the necessary User Directory server setting required to enable guest approval by sponsors. According to the Forescout User Directory Plugin Configuration Guide and Guest Management Portal documentation, Sponsor Groups must be created and configured to define the corporate employees (sponsors) who are authorized to approve or decline guest network access requests.
Sponsor Group Configuration:
In the Guest Management pane, the Sponsors tab is used to define the corporate employees who are authorized to log into the Guest Management Portal to approve network access requests from guests. These employees are assigned to specific Sponsor Groups, which control which sponsors can approve guest access requests.
How Sponsor Groups Enable Guest Approval:
Sponsor Definition - Corporate employees must be designated as sponsors and assigned to a Sponsor Group
Approval Authority - Sponsors in assigned groups can approve or decline guest network access requests
Authentication - When "Enable sponsor approval without authentication via emailed link" is selected, sponsors in the designated group can approve guests based on email link authorization
Guest Registration - Guest registration options connect Sponsor Groups to the guest approval workflow
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Policy to control - While policies are used for guest control, they do not define which sponsors can approve guests
B. Guest Tags - Guest Tags are used to classify and organize guest accounts, not to enable sponsor approval
D. Guest password policy - This setting controls password requirements for guests, not sponsor approval authority
E. Authentication Server - Authentication servers verify credentials but do not establish sponsor approval groups
Referenced Documentation:
Forescout User Directory Plugin Configuration Guide - Create Sponsors section
Guest Management Portal - Sponsor Configuration documentation
"Create sponsors" - Forescout Administration Guide section
