<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC. AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, INCLUDED IN THE FORM FORM 10-Q OF SUNGARD
DATA SYSTEMS INC. FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCES TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          36,469
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  163,856
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,658
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               223,314
<PP&E>                                         251,503
<DEPRECIATION>                                 148,221
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 613,791
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          162,766
<BONDS>                                          3,413
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           424
<OTHER-SE>                                     447,188
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   613,791
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               477,012
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  304,059<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                44,032<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,772
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,386
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,386
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,386
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.24<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.24<F3>
<FN>
<F1>EXCLUDES SELLING, MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND PURCHASED IN-
PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER CHARGES.
<F2>PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER CHARGES.
<F3>INCLUDES PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER CHARGES
TOTALING $0.33 PER DILUTED SHARE AND $0.34 PER BASIC SHARE. ALSO INCLUDES
SEPTEMBER 1997 TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT.
</FN>