Problem

All users synced from an external user directory appear in the Confluence People Directory

Cause

All users that exist in a directory in Confluence are displayed in the People Directory, as a User Info Record is created and indexed when the user is created or synced. There is an existing suggestion for Crowd that would change this behavior:  CWD-1263 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Workaround

Hide the People Directory entirely

If you need to disable the People Directory set the following system properties on your application server command line:

• To disable the People Directory for anonymous users:

 -Dconfluence.disable.peopledirectory.anonymous=true

• To disable the People Directory entirely:

-Dconfluence.disable.peopledirectory.all=true

Find more information at Hiding the People Directory

Configure Confluence to use a Delegated Directory

A delegated directory will import users into Confluence during their first login attempt instead of during a syncing process. The People Directory will only show users that have logged in at least once.

Additionally, it will allow you to create filters so you can allow just some of the users to be imported.