<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FORM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC. AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, BOTH INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE
FORM 10-Q OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<CASH> 32,841
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 207,538
<ALLOWANCES> 17,266
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 264,156
<PP&E> 308,700
<DEPRECIATION> 192,027
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 737,341
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 208,481
<BONDS> 3,037
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0
<PREFERRED> 0
<COMMON> 868
<OTHER-SE> 524,955
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 737,341
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 609,557
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 386,493<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,956<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,015
<INCOME-PRETAX> 93,639
<INCOME-TAX> 38,661
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 54,978
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 54,978
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.64<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.62<F3>
<FN>
<F1>EXCLUDES SELLING, MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND PURCHASED IN-
PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MERGER COSTS.
<F2>PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND MERGER COSTS.
<F3>INCLUDES PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MERGER COSTS
TOTALING $0.07 PER SHARE. ALSO, REFLECTS SEPTEMBER 1997 TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK
SPLIT.
</FN>