By default on-premises OWA (Exchange 2016/2019) does not allow searching in the address book with the “department / service” field. MS365 OWA allows you to do this.
If you want to activate this ONPREMISE feature, it is necessary to modify the Active Directory schema because OWA uses the fields available with an ANR (Ambiguous Name Resolution) criterion to search in the address book.
Warning: Modifying the Active Directory schema is a complex thing that must be evaluated in the context of a large volume. The impact of changing the ANR criterion can impact software such as provisioning software.
Modification of Active Directory schema
Activate the Active Directory schema administration tool with the command “regvr32 schmmgmt.dll”.
You can then add the “Active Directory Schema” tool to an MMC:
Activate the ANR option on the “Department” attribute:
Once the AD has been replicated, it will be possible in OWA to search by department in the enterprise address book:
By Lionel TRAVERSE
Microsoft 365 Certified Administrator Expert / Microsoft Certified Trainer