<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FTP SOFTWARE INC'S. QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT ON FORM 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 27,076 <SECURITIES> 20,857 <RECEIVABLES> 7,787 <ALLOWANCES> 1,300 <INVENTORY> 371 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 65,456 <PP&E> 31,823 <DEPRECIATION> 20,893 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 104,710 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 28,188 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 339 <OTHER-SE> 76,183 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 104,710 <SALES> 39,988 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 53,332 <CGS> 9,786 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,698 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 89,987 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (51,849) <INCOME-TAX> 1,208 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (53,057) <DISCONTINUED> (2,000) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (55,057) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.63) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.63)