Disable ActiveSync in bulk with Exchange Management Shell commands

ActiveSync is enabled by default in Exchange 2007. By disabling ActiveSync for all Exchange users -- except those explicitly authorized to use it -- you move one step closer to limiting potential data loss. Disabling ActiveSync can also help you understand what's happening within your network.

The simplest way to disable ActiveSync for several users is to apply the following Exchange Management Shell (EMS) script.

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(Click on script for enlarged view and script download.)

Note: This script was adapted from Microsoft TechNet's Script Center.

To ensure that this script works correctly, save it with a .PS1 extension and provide a text-based input file of recipients in the location of the variable $SourceFile for it to run against. I chose to use the Exchange alias as my input values in this list because it is a globally unique value in any Exchange organization.

After the script runs, check your log file to see if there were any issues when disabling ActiveSync. When running this for more than 5,000 recipients, I had no errors. You should receive similar results.

If you already have a group of autho...

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rized ActiveSync users and want them to continue using ActiveSync, there are two options.

1. Disable ActiveSync for all users. Then run a modified version of the script using ActiveSyncEnabled $true to re-enable ActiveSync for users who were previously placed into your text-based input file.
2. The other option is to ensure that those users are not included in your original text-based input file. Check that you have the correct recipients in the text file for the disable/enable operation you want to perform, or you'll have to repeat the process to get it correct.

About the author: Will Schmied is a senior systems administrator for a children's research hospital. He holds numerous Microsoft MCITP, MCTS and other certifications, and has been involved with Exchange and Blackberry for many years. He has also been actively involved with IT certification and training for several years, writing or contributing to several dozen books and has founded the popular certification portal, MCSE World. Will also manages the Tales of a System Administrator blog.

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