You can stop the Skype for Business Client from connecting with Outlook and thus surpress the recurring pop-up asking for Exchange data. Click on Options and change the settings under Personal Settings / Personal Information Manager to None.

In April 2015, Microsoft changed the name and look of Lync to Skype for Business. All mentioned versions of Lync and Skype mentioned here are fully compatible.

On default, the NCTI standard client is provided with a Microsoft Skype for Business plugin enabeling synchronising the functionality of the client with Skype for Business. The plugin connects the client automatically with Skype for Business after its installation. Read more about the Skype for Business plug-in here.