**Exhibit31.2**

 

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO**

**SECTION 302(a) OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF2002**

 

I, John W. Riley, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this annual report onForm 10-K of META Group, Inc.;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this annualreport does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit tostate a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of thecircumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading withrespect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financialstatements, and other financial information included in this annual report,fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results ofoperations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for the periodspresented in this annual report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifyingofficer and I are responsible for establishing andmaintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange ActRules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a.               designed such disclosure controls andprocedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others withinthose entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report isbeing prepared;

 

b.              evaluated the effectiveness of theregistrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 daysprior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

c.               presented in thisannual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosurecontrols and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifyingofficer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’sauditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or personsperforming the equivalent functions):

 

a.               all significant deficiencies in thedesign or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect theregistrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial dataand have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses ininternal controls; and

 

b.              any fraud, whetheror not material, that involves management or other employees who have asignificant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.               The registrant’s other certifyingofficer and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there weresignificant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantlyaffect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies andmaterial weaknesses.

 
| Date:                                      |
|--------------------------------------------|
| March 31, 2005                             |
|                                       |
| /s/ John W. Riley                          |   |
| Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

 

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