<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
MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001052196
<NAME>                        DSET Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-Mos                         3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                   DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998                   JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1                             1
<CASH>                                     4,226                         1,307
<SECURITIES>                               38,565                        1,005
<RECEIVABLES>                              4,450                         4,204
<ALLOWANCES>                               (92)                          (14)
<INVENTORY>                                0                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           47,365                        6,527
<PP&E>                                     2,653                         1,624
<DEPRECIATION>                             (1,047)                       (548)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             49,507                        7,714
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      4,590                         1,962
<BONDS>                                    0                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0                             10,959
<PREFERRED>                                0                             0
<COMMON>                                   40,322                        1,382
<OTHER-SE>                                 4,434                         (6,682)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               49,507                        7,714
<SALES>                                    5,322                         3,194
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           5,322                         3,194
<CGS>                                      943                           759
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              4,008                         759
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           4,145                         2,150
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           0                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            438                           306
<INCOME-TAX>                               147                           101
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        291                           205
<DISCONTINUED>                             0                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            0                             0
<CHANGES>                                  0                             0
<NET-INCOME>                               291                           205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                              .04                           .00
<EPS-DILUTED>                              .03                           .00
        

</TABLE>