Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

         AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this "AGREEMENT"),
dated as of April 9, 2001, by and among META GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "BORROWER"), such other Persons which from time to time may
become party hereto (collectively with the Borrower, the "GRANTORS"), and THE
BANK OF NEW YORK (the "BANK").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September
18, 2000, by and between the Borrower and the Bank, as amended by Amendment
No. 1 and Waiver No. 1, dated as of December 11, 2000, and Amendment No. 2
and Waiver No. 2 ("AMENDMENT NO. 2"), dated as of March 30, 2001 (as amended,
and as the same may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT").

         B. As a condition precedent to the Bank's acceptance and execution
of the Credit Agreement and the making of the Loans, the issuance of the
Letters of Credit and all other extensions of credit under the Credit
Agreement, the Borrower executed and delivered to the Bank a Security
Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2000 (the "ORIGINAL SECURITY AGREEMENT").

         C. Pursuant to Amendment No. 2, the Borrower agreed to enter into,
within ten days after the date of Amendment No. 2, an amended and restated
security agreement, for the purpose of providing the Bank with a first
priority security interest in all Accounts of the Borrower.

         Therefore, in consideration of the Recitals, the terms and
conditions herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantors and
the Bank hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.        DEFINED TERMS

                  (a) Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the
Credit Agreement.

                  (b) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto as follows:

                           "ADDITIONAL GRANTOR": each Grantor which becomes a
         party hereto pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

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                           "COLLATERAL": as defined in Section 2.

                           "EQUITY INTEREST": (i) with respect to a corporation,
         the capital stock thereof, (ii) with respect to a partnership, a
         partnership interest therein, all rights of a partner in such
         partnership, whether arising under the partnership agreement of such
         partnership or otherwise; (iii) with respect to a limited liability
         company, a membership interest therein, all rights of a member of such
         limited liability company, whether arising under the limited liability
         company agreement of such limited liability company or otherwise; (iv)
         with respect to any other firm, association, trust, business enterprise
         or other entity which is similar to any other Person listed in clauses
         (i), (ii) and (iii), and this clause (iv), of this definition, any
         equity interest therein, any interest therein which entitles the holder
         thereof to share in the revenue, income, earnings or losses thereof or
         to vote or otherwise participate in any election of one or more members
         of the board of directors or other governing body or Person thereof,
         and (v) all warrants and options in respect of any of the foregoing and
         all other securities which are convertible or exchangeable therefor.

                           "EVENT OF DEFAULT": as defined in Section 6.

                           "FINANCING STATEMENTS": any UCC financing statements
         executed by the Grantors in connection with this Agreement or the
         Original Security Agreement.

                           "OBLIGATIONS": all of the obligations and liabilities
         of each Grantor under the Loan Documents, in each case whether fixed,
         contingent, now existing or hereafter arising, created, assumed,
         incurred or acquired, as such obligations and liabilities may be
         amended, increased, modified, renewed, refinanced by the Bank, refunded
         or extended from time to time.

                           "OFFICE LOCATION": as defined in Section 3(a).

                           "SUPPLEMENT": a Supplement to this Agreement, duly
         completed, in the form of Annex A hereto.

                           "UCC": with respect to any jurisdiction, Articles 1,
         8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such
         jurisdiction on the date of this Agreement, as the same may be amended
         from time to time.

                  (c) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized
terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the UCC, as such
definitions may be amended from time to time: "ACCOUNT", "CERTIFICATED
SECURITY", "INSTRUMENT", "ISSUER", "PROCEEDS", "SECURED PARTY", and
"SECURITY".

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Section 2.        GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

                  To secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and
performance of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Bank a
security interest in and to all of such Grantor's right, title and interest
in and to all of the following property now owned or hereafter acquired
(collectively, the "COLLATERAL"):

                           (i) all Accounts of the Borrower, and all Instruments
         evidencing Intercompany Indebtedness owed to the Borrower;

                           (ii) the safekeeping account in the name of the
         Borrower maintained at the Bank and designated as account number 241033
         and any demand deposit accounts established in connection with such
         account (together with any successor accounts, the "COLLATERAL
         ACCOUNT") and all property from time to time held in or credited to the
         Collateral Account, whether now held or hereafter acquired and
         transferred into or credited to the Collateral Account, including,
         without limitation, all monies, bills, bonds, notes, obligations,
         securities, commercial paper, instruments or other investment property
         and financial assets of any nature held in or credited to the
         Collateral Account, in each case, together with all payments and
         distributions now or hereafter made thereon (whether constituting
         principal, interest or dividends and whether payable in cash or in
         property); all sums now or hereafter deposited in, and all sums due or
         to become due on (whether as interest, dividends or otherwise), the
         Collateral Account; all rights (contractual or otherwise) now or
         hereafter arising under, connected with or in any way related to the
         foregoing items of Collateral in this sub-paragraph (ii), including all
         securities entitlements with respect thereto; all claims (including the
         right to sue or otherwise recover such claims) against third parties
         now or hereafter arising under, connected with or in any way related to
         the foregoing items of Collateral in this sub-paragraph (ii); and all
         additions thereto and all substitutions, exchanges and replacements
         therefor;

                           (iii) all Equity Interests in each Person which now
         is or may hereafter become a Subsidiary of such Grantor, whether or not
         evidenced by a Security; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to any
         Foreign Subsidiary which does not become a Subsidiary Guarantor
         pursuant to the terms of Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement, the
         Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary pledged hereunder shall be
         equal to 60% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Foreign
         Subsidiary; and

                           (iv) all Proceeds of all of the foregoing.

Section 3.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Bank as
follows:

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                           (a) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE. As of the date hereof,
         the Borrower's chief executive office, is, and has been continuously
         for the immediately preceding five-month period, located at the address
         set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement (the "OFFICE
         LOCATION").

                           (b) BORROWER'S NAME. The Borrower has not changed its
         legal name during the six-year period immediately preceding the date
         hereof.

                           (c) SECURITY INTEREST. This Agreement, together with
         the delivery to the Bank of the Certificated Securities constituting
         Collateral and the continuous possession thereof by the Bank creates a
         continuing enforceable security interest in the Collateral in favor of
         the Bank. Upon (i) the presentation for filing of the Financing
         Statements at the respective offices listed thereon together with the
         appropriate filing fee therefor, and (ii) the delivery to the Bank of
         any Instruments constituting the Collateral, such security interest
         shall be perfected. The Bank shall be considered a "PROTECTED
         PURCHASER" within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC, with respect to
         the Collateral consisting of Securities.

                           (d) ACCOUNTS. As of the date hereof, (i) all records
         concerning any Accounts constituting the Collateral, other than such
         Accounts that are not material to the conduct of the Borrower's
         business, are located at the Office Location, and (ii) no such Account
         that is covered by the representation in clause (i) of this paragraph
         is evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument.

                           (e) INSTRUMENTS. The Borrower does not currently own
         any Instruments evidencing Intercompany Indebtedness, other than such
         as are not material to the conduct of the Borrower's business.

Section 4.        COVENANTS OF THE GRANTORS

                  Each Grantor hereby covenants with the Bank as follows:

                           (a) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE. Such Grantor shall
         maintain its place of business, or if such Grantor has more than one
         place of business, its chief executive office, at its Office Location
         or at such other location in respect of which (A) such Grantor shall
         have provided the Bank with prior written notice thereof, and (B) if
         the Bank deems necessary, UCC financing statements (or amendments
         thereto), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Bank,
         shall have been filed within two months of such change.

                           (b) FURTHER ASSURANCES. Such Grantor shall, at its
         own expense, promptly execute and deliver all certificates, documents,
         instruments, financing and continuation statements and amendments
         thereto, notices and other agreements, and take all further action,
         that the Bank may reasonably request

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         from time to time, in order to perfect and protect the security
         interest granted hereby or to enable the Bank to exercise and
         enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to the
         Collateral. Such Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Bank as
         such Grantor's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, in the name,
         place and stead of such Grantor, to perform on behalf of such Grantor
         any and all obligations of such Grantor under this Agreement, and such
         Grantor agrees that the power of attorney herein granted constitutes a
         power coupled with an interest, provided, however, that the Bank shall
         have no obligation to perform any such obligation and such performance
         shall be at the sole cost and expense of such Grantor. If such Grantor
         fail to comply with any of its obligations hereunder, the Bank may do
         so in such Grantor's name or in the Bank's name, but at such Grantor's
         expense, and such Grantor hereby agrees to reimburse the Bank in full
         for all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees,
         incurred by the Bank in connection therewith.

                           (c) INFORMATION. Such Grantor at its own expense
         shall furnish to the Bank such information, reports, statements and
         schedules with respect to the Collateral as the Bank may reasonably
         request from time to time.

                           (d) DEFENSE OF COLLATERAL. Such Grantor at its own
         expense shall defend the Collateral against all material claims of any
         kind or nature of all Persons at any time claiming the same or any
         interest therein adverse to the interests of the Bank, and such Grantor
         shall not cause, permit or suffer to exist any Lien upon the Collateral
         except as permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

                           (e) DELIVERY OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL. Each Certificated
         Security representing an Equity Interest in a Person which is or shall
         become a Subsidiary of such Grantor shall be promptly delivered to the
         Bank (subject to the limitation contained in Section 2(iii)), to be
         held by the Bank pursuant hereto, in suitable form for transfer by
         delivery or accompanied by duly executed documents of transfer or
         assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Bank. Such Grantor agrees that until so delivered, each such
         Certificated Security shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the
         benefit of the Bank and be segregated from the other Property of such
         Grantor.

                           (f) ACCOUNTS. Except as otherwise provided in this
         Section 4(f), the Borrower shall continue to collect in accordance with
         its customary practices, at its own expense, all amounts due or to
         become due to the Borrower in respect of its Accounts and, prior to the
         occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall have the right to
         adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any such Account,
         all in accordance with its customary practices. In connection with such
         collections, the Borrower may take and, at the direction of the Bank at
         any time that an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
         shall take,

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         such action as the Borrower or the Bank may reasonably deem
         necessary or advisable to enforce collection of such Accounts.

                           (g) INSTRUMENTS. All of the Instruments now or
         hereafter owned by or in the possession of the Borrower which
         constitute the Collateral (other than checks received in the ordinary
         course of collection) shall be promptly delivered to the Bank, to be
         held by the Bank pursuant hereto, in suitable form for transfer by
         delivery or accompanied by duly executed documents of transfer or
         assignment in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
         to the Bank. The Borrower agrees that, with respect to all items of the
         Collateral which it is or shall hereafter be obligated to deliver to
         the Bank, until so delivered such items shall be held by the Borrower
         in trust for the benefit of the Bank and be segregated from the other
         Property of the Borrower.

Section 5.        OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE GRANTORS

                  (a) NO DUTY TO PRESERVE. Except as otherwise required by
law, each Grantor agrees that, with respect to the Collateral, the Bank has
no obligation to preserve rights against prior or third parties.

                  (b) BANK'S DUTY WITH RESPECT TO COLLATERAL. The Bank's only
duty with respect to the Collateral delivered to it shall be to use
reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral, and each
Grantor agrees that if the Bank accords the Collateral substantially the same
kind of care as it accords its own Property, such care shall conclusively be
deemed reasonable. In the event that all or any part of the Certificated
Securities or Instruments constituting the Collateral are lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken while such Certificated Securities or Instruments are in the
possession of the Bank, each Grantor agrees that it will use its best efforts
to cause the delivery of new Certificated Securities or Instruments in place
of the lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Certificated Securities or
Instruments upon request therefor by the Bank, without the necessity of any
indemnity bond or other security, other than the Bank's agreement of
indemnity upon usual and customary terms therefor. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Bank shall not be under any duty to send
notices, perform services, exercise any rights of collection, enforcement,
conversion or exchange, vote, pay for insurance, taxes or other charges or
take any action of any kind in connection with the management of the
Collateral.

Section 6.        EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  Each of the following shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT":

                           (a) If any Grantor shall fail to observe or perform
         any term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; or

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                           (b) The occurrence and continuance of any other Event
         of Default under, and as such term is defined in, the Credit Agreement.

Section 7.        REMEDIES

                  (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or at any time
         thereafter during the continuance thereof, the Bank may:

                           (i) exercise any and all rights and remedies granted
         to a Secured Party by the UCC or otherwise allowed at law, and
         otherwise provided by this Agreement, and

                           (ii) dispose of the Collateral as it may choose, so
         long as every aspect of the disposition including the method, manner,
         time, place and terms are commercially reasonable, and each Grantor
         agrees that, without limitation, the following are each commercially
         reasonable: the Bank shall not in any event be required to give more
         than 14 days' prior notice to any Grantor of any such disposition, any
         place within the City of New York or the County of Fairfield,
         Connecticut may be designated by the Bank for disposition, and the Bank
         may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by
         announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may,
         without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was
         so adjourned.

                  (b) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the Bank may
elect, with respect to the offer or sale of any or all of the Equity
Interests constituting the Collateral, to conduct such offer and sale in such
a manner as to avoid the need for registration or qualification of such
Equity Interests or the offer and sale thereof under any Federal or state
securities laws and that the Bank is authorized to comply with any limitation
or restriction in connection with such sale as counsel may advise the Bank is
reasonably necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable law,
compliance with such procedures as may restrict the number of prospective
bidders and purchasers, require that such prospective bidders and purchasers
have certain qualifications, and restrict such prospective bidders and
purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing
for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution
or resale of such Equity Interests, or in order to obtain any required
approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any Governmental Authority. Each
Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that any such transaction may be at
prices and on terms less favorable than those which may be obtained through a
public sale and not subject to such restrictions and agrees that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank is under no obligation to conduct any
such public sale and may elect to impose any or all of the foregoing
restrictions, or any other restrictions which may be reasonably necessary in
order to avoid any such registration or qualification, at its sole
discretion, and that any such offer and sale so conducted shall be deemed to
have been made in a commercially reasonable manner.

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                  (c) To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby
expressly waives and covenants not to assert any appraisement, valuation,
stay, extension, redemption or similar laws, now or at any time hereafter in
force, which might delay, prevent or otherwise impede the performance or
enforcement of this Agreement.

Section 8.        VOTING

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, each Grantor shall have the right to vote all Securities
constituting the Collateral and receive and retain all dividends and
distributions thereon until such time, if any, as an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the Bank shall have notified the Grantors
that the Bank shall have elected to terminate the rights of the Grantors
under this Section, at which time the Bank shall then be vested with the
right to vote all Securities constituting the Collateral and receive and
retain all dividends and distributions thereon, until such time as such Event
of Default is cured or waived.

Section 9.        NOTICES

                  All notices and other communications provided for or otherwise
required hereunder or in connection herewith shall be given in the manner and,
with respect to the Borrower and the Bank, to the addresses set forth in Section
10.2 of the Credit Agreement. The address for notices to each other Grantor
executing this Agreement shall be its respective Office Location.

Section 10.       ADDITIONAL GRANTORS

                  Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement requires, upon the
terms and conditions set forth therein, that each Subsidiary of the Borrower
that was not in existence on the Effective Date which owns any Capital Stock
of any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, shall enter into this Agreement as
an additional Grantor. Upon execution and delivery by the Bank and any such
Subsidiary of a Supplement, together with certificates evidencing the Equity
Interests being pledged (subject to the limitation contained in Section
2(iii)) and such UCC Financing Statements and other documents as the Bank
shall require in order to perfect the Bank's security interest granted
thereby, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force
and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and
delivery of such Supplement shall not require the consent of any other
Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new
Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

Section 11.       TERMINATION

                  On any date upon which (i) the Bank shall no longer have
any obligation to make any Revolving Credit Loans or issue any Letters of
Credit, and (ii) the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in
cash, the Liens granted hereby

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shall cease and the Bank shall, at the Grantors' expense, execute and deliver
all UCC Termination Statements which the Grantors shall have reasonably
requested, and return to the Grantors all Collateral which shall remain in
the possession of the Bank at such time.

Section 12.       RELATIONSHIP TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  This Agreement is the "SECURITY AGREEMENT" under, and as
such term is defined in, the Credit Agreement, and is subject to, and should
be construed in accordance with, the provisions thereof. Each of the Bank and
the Grantors acknowledges that certain provisions of the Credit Agreement,
Sections 1.2 (Principles of Construction), 3.9 (Taxes), 10.1 (Amendments and
Waivers), 10.3 (No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies), 10.4 (Survival of
Representations and Warranties and Certain Obligations), 10.7 (Counterparts),
10.9 (Construction), 10.10 (Governing Law), 10.11 (Headings Descriptive),
10.12 (Severability), 10.13 (Integration), 10.14 (Consent to Jurisdiction),
10.15 (Service of Process), 10.16 (No Limitation on Service or Suit) and
10.17 (WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY) thereof, are made applicable to this
Agreement and all such provisions are incorporated by reference herein as if
fully set forth herein.

Section 13.       AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT

                  This Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the
Original Security Agreement. All Obligations as defined in the Original
Security Agreement shall be Obligations under and as defined in this
Agreement and shall be secured by the Collateral as defined in this Agreement.

         [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS INTENTIONALLY BEEN LEFT BLANK.]

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                  IN EVIDENCE of the agreement by the parties hereto to the
terms and conditions herein contained, each such party has caused this
Amended and Restated Security Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf.

                                 META GROUP, INC.

                                 By: /s/  John A. Piontkowski
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                 Name:    John A. Piontkowski
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer
                                          -------------------------------------

Accepted by:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

By:   /s/ MARK J. SICINSKI
      -----------------------------------------
         Mark J. Sicinski,
         Vice President

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                                     ANNEX A

                    FORM OF SUPPLEMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

                  SUPPLEMENT, dated as of __________, made by ___________, a
______ corporation (the "NEW GRANTOR") to the Amended and Restated Security
Agreement (the "SECURITY AGREEMENT"), dated as of April __, 2001, by and
between META GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "BORROWER" and,
collectively with each Subsidiary which has previously become a party to the
Security Agreement pursuant to Section 10 thereof, the "GRANTORS"), and THE
BANK OF NEW YORK (the "BANK").

                  1. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
September 18, 2000, by and between the Borrower and the Bank, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 and Waiver No. 1, dated as of December 11, 2000, and
Amendment No. 2 and Waiver No. 2, dated as of March 30, 2001 (as amended, and
as the same may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT").

                  2. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement
or the Credit Agreement, as the case may be.

                  3. The Grantors have entered into the Security Agreement in
order to induce the Bank to enter into the Credit Agreement and make the Loans
and issue Letters of Credit. Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement requires, upon
the terms and conditions set forth therein, that each Subsidiary of the Borrower
that was not in existence on the Effective Date which owns any Capital Stock of
any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, enter into the Security Agreement as an
additional Grantor. Section 10 of the Security Agreement provides that such
Subsidiary shall become a Grantor under the Security Agreement by the execution
and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The New Grantor is
executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit
Agreement to become a Grantor under the Security Agreement in order to induce
the Bank to make additional Loans and issue additional Letters of Credit, and as
consideration for Loans previously made.

                  Accordingly, the Bank and the New Grantor agree as follows:

                  (a) In accordance with Section 10 of the Security
Agreement, by signing this Supplement, the New Grantor (a) shall be, and
shall be deemed to be, a "Grantor" under, and as such term is defined in, the
Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named
therein as a Grantor, (b) shall have made, and shall be deemed to have made,
the representations and warranties contained in Section 3 of the Security
Agreement on and as of the date hereof, and (c) shall have made, and shall be
deemed to have made, all of the covenants and agreements of a Grantor set
forth in the Security Agreement.

<PAGE>

                  (b)      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                           The New Grantor represents and warrants to the Bank
as follows:

                           (i) This Supplement has been duly authorized,
         executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and
         binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its
         terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium
         or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or an action at law).

                           (ii) The New Grantor's place of business or, if the
         New Grantor has more than one place of business, its chief executive
         office, is, and has been continuously for the immediately preceding
         five-month period, located at:_________________________________________
         (the "OFFICE LOCATION").

                           (iii) The New Grantor has not changed its legal name
         during the six-year period immediately preceding the date of this
         Supplement, except as the Bank shall have been advised of prior to such
         Grantor becoming a party to this Agreement.

                  (c) Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Security
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  (d) This Supplement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts
of laws rules.

                  (e) Every provision of this Supplement is intended to be
severable, and if any term or provision hereof shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof or thereof shall not be affected or impaired
thereby, and any invalidity, illegality or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any
such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

                  (f) The New Grantor agrees to reimburse the Bank for its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement,
including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel to
the Bank.

                  (g) This Supplement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which,
when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument. This Supplement
shall become effective when the Bank shall have received counterparts of this
Supplement duly executed by the New Grantor.

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                  The New Grantor and the Bank have duly executed this
Supplement to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.

                               [NAME OF NEW GRANTOR]

                               By:
                                        ------------------------------
                               Name:
                                        ------------------------------
                               Title:
                                        ------------------------------

                               THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                               By:
                                        ------------------------------
                               Name:
                                        ------------------------------
                               Title:
                                        ------------------------------

                                     iii<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Employment Agreement is made as of March 1, 2001 (the
"EFFECTIVE DATE"), by and between John A. Piontkowski (the "EXECUTIVE") and
META Group, Inc. and any of its subsidiaries, divisions and affiliates, and
its and their predecessors, successors and assigns (the "COMPANY").

         WHEREAS, the Executive is currently a Company employee;

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the
Executive, and expects the Executive to continue to make significant
contributions to the Company;

         WHEREAS, the Executive has certain experience and expertise that
qualify him to continue to provide the managerial skills required by the
Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company deem it in their respective
best interests to enter into an agreement providing for the continued
employment of the Executive as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, subject
to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Company offers and the Executive hereby agrees to remain a
Company employee subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, as of
the Effective Date.

         2. TERM. Subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 5
hereof, this Agreement shall continue for a term commencing on the Effective
Date and ending on February 28, 2002. Thereafter, the Executive understands
that if the Company continues to employ him, his employment will continue to
be on an at-will basis. The term of this Agreement, as from time to time may
be modified and in effect, is hereafter referred to as "the term of this
Agreement" or "the term hereof."

         3. CAPACITY AND PERFORMANCE. During the term hereof, the Executive
shall continue to serve the Company as its Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer and/or in any other position that may be assigned. The parties
agree that the Executive's employment shall continue to be full-time and on
an "at-will" basis, which means that either the Executive or a majority of
the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") may terminate the employment
relationship and this Agreement at any time, for any or no reason, with or
without cause, upon notice to the other party, but subject to Section 5
hereof. The Executive shall report to the Company's Chief Executive Officer
("CEO") and/or the Board. The Executive shall comply with and perform,

<PAGE>

                                     - 2 -

faithfully, diligently and to the best of his ability, such directions and
duties in relation to the Company's business and affairs as the Company may
from time to time vest in or request of him. The Executive shall devote
substantially all of his business time, attention and energies to the
Company's business and shall not engage in any other business activity
(without the CEO and/or the Board's approval), whether or not for profit or
other pecuniary advantage, that may conflict with the performance of the his
duties hereunder.

         4. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. As compensation for the Executive
satisfactorily performing his duties and obligations hereunder to the Company
and subject to the provisions of Section 5, the Executive shall receive:

                  4.1. BASE SALARY. The Executive will continue to receive
his base salary paid at a rate of $15,833.33 per month (the "BASE SALARY"),
subject to any modification resulting from his performance review as approved
by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Base Salary shall be payable
in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company as may be
established or modified from time to time. Currently, salaries are paid on a
bi-weekly basis.

                  4.2. SIGNING BONUS. Within a reasonable time after the
Executive executes this Agreement, the Executive will receive a one-time
signing bonus payment of $20,000 (the "SIGNING BONUS"). In the event the
Executive terminates his employment within three (3) months from the
Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.4 herein, the Executive agrees to repay
a pro-rated amount of the Signing Bonus to the Company within a time as
prescribed by the Company and/or the Board.

                  4.3 PERFORMANCE BONUS. During the term hereof, the
Executive will be eligible to receive the following bonus amounts: (i) a
monthly bonus payment of a maximum of $7,500 (the "MONTHLY BONUS PAYMENT"),
capped at an aggregate maximum of $75,000, provided that the Executive
performs his duties each month on a regular, full-time basis in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) an additional one-time bonus
payment of up to $45,000 (the "ANNUAL BONUS PAYMENT"), as determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (at its sole discretion) based on factors
that they will establish. All bonus payments shall be payable in accordance
with the Company's customary bonus practices as established or modified from
time to time.

                  4.4. BENEFITS. During the term hereof and subject to any
contribution therefor generally required of the Company, the Executive shall
continue to be eligible to participate in all employee benefits plans as from
time to time adopted by the Company and in effect for executives of the
Company in similar positions. Such participation shall be subject to (i) the
terms of the applicable plan documents, (ii) generally applicable Company
policies, and (iii) the discretion of the Company and/or the Board or any
administrative or other committee provided for in or contemplated by such
plan. The Company's current plans and policies shall govern all other
benefits. The Company may alter, modify, add to, or delete its employee
benefits plans and/or policies at any time as the Company and/or the Board,
in their sole judgment, determines to be appropriate.

<PAGE>

                                     - 3 -

                  4.5. BUSINESS EXPENSES. The Company shall pay or reimburse
the Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred or paid by the
Executive in the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder,
subject to (i) any reasonable expense policy set by the Company as may be
modified from time to time, and (ii) such reasonable substantiation and
documentation requirements as may be specified by the Company from time to
time.

         5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 2 hereof, the Executive's employment and this Agreement shall
terminate prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement under the
following circumstances:

                  5.1. DEATH OR DISABILITY. In the event of the Executive's
death or Disability (as defined in Section 10B of the Amended and Restated
1995 Stock Plan, as the same may be amended or amended and restated from time
to time (the "STOCK PLAN") during the term hereof, the Executive's employment
and this Agreement shall immediately and automatically terminate and the
Company shall pay to the Executive (or in the case of death, the Executive's
designated beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the
Executive, his estate), any Base Salary and vacation earned but unpaid
through the date of death or Disability. To the extent the Executive
qualifies for either short term disability and/or long term disability
insurance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's plans,
the Company may offset any such insurance payments against any Base Salary
paid to the Executive (including any such payment made pursuant to this
Section).

                  5.2. BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE.

                  (a) Upon approval of a majority of the Board, the Board may
terminate the Executive's employment and this Agreement for Cause at any time
during the term hereof. The Board and/or Company shall thereafter have no
further obligation or liability to the Executive relating to the Executive's
employment or this Agreement, other than Base Salary and vacation earned but
unpaid through the date of termination.

                  (b) The following events or conditions shall constitute
"CAUSE" for termination: (i) the substantial and continuing failure of the
Executive, after notice thereof, to render services to the Company or any
Related Corporation (as that term is defined in the Stock Plan) in accordance
with the terms or requirements of his employment; (ii) disloyalty, gross
negligence, willful misconduct, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty to the
Company or any Related Corporation; (iii) the commission of an act of
embezzlement or fraud; (iv) deliberate disregard of the rules or policies of
the Company or any Related Corporation which results in direct or indirect
loss, damage or injury to the Company or any Related Corporation; (v) the
unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information of
the Company or any Related Corporation; or (vi) the commission of an act
which constitutes unfair competition with the Company or any Related
Corporation or which induces any customer or supplier to breach a contract
with the Company or any Related Corporation.

                  5.3 BY THE COMPANY OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE.

<PAGE>

                                     - 4 -

                  (a) Upon approval of a majority of the Board, the Board may
terminate the Executive's employment and this Agreement other than for Cause
at any time during the term hereof. In the event of such termination, the
Executive will be eligible for the following severance payments: (i) a lump
sum payment equal to the Executive's Base Salary for the period from the date
of the Executive's termination of employment until February 28, 2002; and
(ii) any remaining Monthly Bonus Payments and the Annual Bonus Payment,
subject to the terms and conditions relating to both such bonus payments as
set forth in Section 4.3. The Executive agrees to execute a comprehensive
release in a form and scope satisfactory to the Company at the time of any
termination in exchange for the receipt of such severance payments.

                  5.4. BY THE EXECUTIVE. If the Executive terminates this
Agreement and/or his employment with the Company for any reason other than
death or Disability, the Company shall have no further obligation or
liability to the Executive relating to the Executive's employment or this
Agreement, other than for any Base Salary and vacation earned but unpaid
through the termination date.

         6. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. The provisions of this Section 6 shall
apply in the event of termination of this Agreement and/or the Executive's
employment pursuant to Sections 2 or 5.

                  6.1. PAYMENT IN FULL. Payment by the Company to the
Executive of any Base Salary and other compensation amounts as provided and
referenced herein shall constitute the entire obligation of the Company to
the Executive, except that nothing in this Section 6.1 is intended or shall
be construed to affect the rights and obligations of the Company, on the one
hand, and the Executive, on the other, with respect to any loans, stock
warrants, stock pledge arrangements, option plans or other agreements to the
extent said rights or obligations survive the Executive's termination of
employment under the provisions of documents relating thereto.

                  6.2. TERMINATION OF BENEFITS. Except for any right of
continuation of benefits coverage to the extent provided by COBRA or other
applicable law, benefits shall terminate pursuant to the terms of the
applicable benefit plans as of the termination date of the Executive's
employment without regard to any severance or other payments to the Executive
following such termination date.

                  6.3 CESSATION OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. If the
Executive breaches his obligations under this Agreement and/or the Employee
Noncompetition, Nondisclosure and Developments Agreement (the "NONCOMPETITION
AGREEMENT") the Executive agrees that the Company may (i) immediately cease
payment of all compensation and benefits described in this Agreement and (ii)
recover any severance payments (as referenced in Section 5.3(a)(i)-(ii)) paid
by the Company to the Executive after the date on which the Executive
breached the Noncompetition Agreement. The Executive also agrees that the
cessation and recovery of these payments shall be in addition to, and not as
an alternative to, any other remedies at law or in equity available to the
Company, including the right to seek specific performance or an injunction.

<PAGE>

                                     - 5 -

         7. SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. The obligations of the Executive
under the Noncompetition Agreement expressly survive any termination of the
Executive's employment, regardless of the manner of such termination, or
termination of this Agreement.

         8. WITHHOLDING; TAXES. All payments made by the Company under this
Agreement shall be subject to and reduced by any federal, state and/or local
taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under any
applicable law, and the Company may withhold from any amounts payable to the
Executive (including any amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement) in order to comply with such withholding obligations.

         9. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  9.1. ASSIGNMENT. The Executive shall not assign this
Agreement or any interest herein. The Company may assign this Agreement. No
such assignment shall be deemed a "termination" of the Executive's employment
within the meaning of Section 5. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Company's successors and assigns.

                  9.2 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any nonmaterial
provision of this Agreement is determined to be legally invalid, the affected
provision shall be stricken from the Agreement and the remaining terms of the
Agreement shall be enforced so as to give effect to the intention of the
parties to the maximum extent practicable. In the event that any material
provision of this Agreement is determined to be legally invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the parties hereto, upon returning the consideration
exchanged in executing this Agreement, may discontinue performance under this
Agreement.

                  9.3. WAIVER; AMENDMENT. Any waiver by the Company of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any other provision
hereof. In addition, any amendment to or modification of this Agreement or
any waiver of any provision hereof must be in writing and signed by the
Company.

                  9.4. NOTICES. All notices, requests and other
communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be effective when delivered in person or four business days after being
deposited in the mail of the United States, postage prepaid, registered or
certified, and addressed (a) in the case of the Executive, to the address set
forth underneath his signature to this Agreement or (b) in the case of the
Company, to the attention of the Board, with a copy to the CEO c/o META
Group, Inc.; and/or to such other address as either party may specify by
notice to the other.

                  9.5. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the Noncompetition
Agreement, the Stock Plan and the META Group, Inc. Incentive Stock Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the Company and the
Executive with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive's
employment with the Company and supersede and cancel all prior
communications, agreements and understandings, written or oral, between the
Executive and the

<PAGE>

                                      - 6 -

Company with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive's
employment with the Company.

                  9.6. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                  9.7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement, the employment
relationship contemplated herein and any claim arising from such
relationship, whether or not arising under this Agreement, shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
Connecticut without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision
or rule thereof, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be performable in such
State.

                  9.8. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Executive, by his
execution hereof, hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the state or federal courts of the State of Connecticut for the purpose of
any claim or action arising out of or based upon this Agreement, the
Executive's employment with the Company and/or termination thereof, or
relating to the subject matter hereof, and agrees not to commence any such
claim or action other than in the above-named courts.

<PAGE>

                                      - 7 -

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the Company,
by its duly authorized representative, and by the Executive, as of the date
first above written.

                                       META GROUP, INC.

                                       By:/s/ Dale Kutnick
                                          ----------------------------

                                       Name: Dale Kutnick
                                             -------------------------

                                       Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                              ------------------------

                                       THE EXECUTIVE

                                       /s/ John A. Piontkowski
                                       -------------------------------
                                       John A. Piontkowski

                                       ADDRESS: 6 November Trail
                                                ----------------------
                                                Weston, CT
                                                ----------------------

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