<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF AXENT
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND
1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 SEP-30-1999
<CASH> 48,041,000 52,491,000
<SECURITIES> 77,067,000 54,987,000
<RECEIVABLES> 34,973,000 32,648,000
<ALLOWANCES> 3,357,000 3,632,000
<INVENTORY> 0 263,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 161,141,000 140,006,000
<PP&E> 27,594,000 21,303,000
<DEPRECIATION> 13,778,000 9,061,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 208,252,000 191,215,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38,038,000 38,969,000
<BONDS> 0 685,000
0 0
0 0
<COMMON> 580,000 559,000
<OTHER-SE> 169,634,000 151,002,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 208,252,000 191,215,000
<SALES> 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 98,481,000 76,345,000
<CGS> 0 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 15,858,000 11,037,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 84,753,000 78,938,000
<LOSS-PROVISION> 716,000 468,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> (2,130,000) (13,630,000)
<INCOME-TAX> (776,000) 1,388,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,833,000 (8,860,000)
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 1,833,000 (8,860,000)
<EPS-BASIC> 0.06 (0.32)
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.06 (0.32)
</TABLE>