Preserving LDAP Hierarchy in a SCIM Directory Using Special Marker Groups

A method for hierarchically processing Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) operations against a System for Cross-domain Identity Management (SCIM) directory is provided. The method includes providing an LDAP Directory Information Tree (DIT) including a plurality of LDAP DIT entries that describe LDAP containers, users and groups, providing a SCIM directory including a plurality of SCIM resource entries that describe SCIM users and groups, migrating the plurality of LDAP DIT entries to the SCIM directory including storing the LDAP DIT hierarchical information in the SCIM directory by mapping LDAP containers in the LDAP DIT to special marker SCIM groups in the SCIM directory, receiving, from an LDAP-based application over a network, an LDAP operation request, processing the LDAP operation request, and returning an LDAP operation response to the LDAP-based application over the network.