<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF AXENT
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND
1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                      48,041,000              52,491,000
<SECURITIES>                                77,067,000              54,987,000
<RECEIVABLES>                               34,973,000              32,648,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 3,357,000               3,632,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0                 263,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           161,141,000             140,006,000
<PP&E>                                      27,594,000              21,303,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              13,778,000               9,061,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             208,252,000             191,215,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       38,038,000              38,969,000
<BONDS>                                              0                 685,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       580,000                 559,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 169,634,000             151,002,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               208,252,000             191,215,000
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            98,481,000              76,345,000
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               15,858,000              11,037,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            84,753,000              78,938,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               716,000                 468,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (2,130,000)            (13,630,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                 (776,000)               1,388,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,833,000             (8,860,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,833,000             (8,860,000)
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.06                  (0.32)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.06                  (0.32)