Forum Discussion
Reconnecting Exchange Online Mailbox
Hi, So I currently have a hybrid Exchange setup. As a test I deleted an on-prem user which in turn deleted the mailbox in exchange online. I then created a new account in Azure/O365 and tried...
Easiest way to go completely cloud only is to disable directory sync tenant wide using PowerShell as per the following link;
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/enterprise/turn-off-directory-synchronization
This is only suitable if you are completely prepared for cloud only identity for all of your O365 objects however.
If you needed to do this on a per user basis, then the simplest way is to do what you did and delete the on-prem account, then wait for the sync. The O365 account will move from Active Users to Deleted Users. You may then choose the option to restore the user which will recreate it as a cloud only object.
If you have Exchange Hybrid, be careful of your mail flow though. Make sure you take this into consideration too.
No, the opposite would be true. The accounts would be cloud only and completely manageable from the O365 portal / Azure AD with no reliance to on-premises.
I've never done what you are trying to achieve using your method so I can't comment to that. However, you could test the experience with a test account to check what the impact would be.
Oh right ok, so if I understand correctly if I follow that article you have referenced the account that have sync'd into Azure from my On-Prem will automatically change and the source in Azure Active Directory will change from Windows Server AD to Azure Active Directory and then I can decommission the on-prem server simple as that?
I'd rather do this the correct way rather than the way I discovered.
Thanks
Mark
Absolutely correct yes. Done it many times this way and it works great! If your mailflow is already pointed to Exchange Online too then you are good to go with this.
