Exchange Hybrid - GAL

Question

So we have a hybrid environment with on-premises AD users that are synced to Office 365. Users'mailboxes are on Exchange Online. Azure AD OU filtering is not used yet so we sync all accounts (even disabled ones)

In Skype for Business Online when you search for a contact, it will also show the disabled accounts whereas the Exchange Address book won't show the disabled accounts

Is that normal, Skype doesn't use the same address book?

We are coming from an Exchange on-premises setup but we have almost migrated all mailboxes online, how does the GAL is maintained now Can I delete my on-premises Address lists? How can I create Address lists in Office 365?

vasilmichev · Answer

Both Exchange and SfB will show disabled accounts, the don't differ I this regard and use the same attribute to "hide" a user.
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As for address list, you can use the familiar Exchange cmdlets: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj983798(v=exchg.150).aspx

thomas capacci · Answer

This is not what we are experiencing which is why I thought it had to do with AD Connect.

If I go to Outlook and go to Address Book, I do not see the disabled accounts in question.

Now if I open SfB and Type the name in the "find someone" search box the name shows up.

The account in question doesn't have a mailbox (neither on-premises nor online), I also checked the AD attribute msEchHideFromAddressLists which is set to TRUE

We observe this behavior for all our disabled accounts

vasilmichev · Answer

Ah, I see. That explains it actually, Exchange address lists (including the GAL) only include valid Exchange recipient types, if the user doesn't have a mailbox (and is not represented by a mail-user object on-premises), Exchange Online will ignore it. I wrongly assumed you are talking about Exchange-related objects.

thomas capacci · Answer

Would you know how to explain the difference between the Skype&nbsp;and Exchange Online contacts?&nbsp;I am trying to understand&nbsp;how I could make that disabled accounts don't show up on Skype.&nbsp;

vasilmichev · Answer

It's not about contacts per se, it's about the recipient type for the corresponding object. Here's an example to try in your tenant: create a user directly in the O365, do not license it for Exchange, but give it a SfB license. Such user will be visible in SfB, but NOT visible in Exchange, as it is not recognized as any valid Exchange recipient. The same applies when you sync objects from on-premises - only the objects that are recognized as valid Exchange recipients will show up in the GAL.

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Exchange Hybrid - GAL

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