<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE  UNAUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001052196
<NAME>                        DSET Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollar
       
<S>                             <C>                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos                     9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1998              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1998              JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             SEP-30-1998              SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                          1                        1
<CASH>                                   4,533                    898
<SECURITIES>                             40,381                   1,558
<RECEIVABLES>                            6,995                    6,843
<ALLOWANCES>                             (122)                    (31)
<INVENTORY>                              0                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         52,016                   9,423
<PP&E>                                   2,965                    2,267
<DEPRECIATION>                           (1,281)                  (816)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           54,273                   11,474
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    5,700                    4,052
<BONDS>                                  0                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0                        11,346
<PREFERRED>                              0                        0
<COMMON>                                 41,190                   1,476
<OTHER-SE>                               7,280                    (5,627)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             54,273                   11,474
<SALES>                                  20,084                   13,421
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         20,084                   13,421
<CGS>                                    4,002                    3,597
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            12,766                   7,445
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       28                       7
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          4,520                    2,456
<INCOME-TAX>                             1,633                    810
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      2,887                    1,647
<DISCONTINUED>                           0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0                        0
<CHANGES>                                0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                             2,887                    1,647
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.33                     0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.26                     0.20
        

</TABLE>