<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET - UNAUDITED AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<CIK>              0000859360
<NAME>             LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>       1000


                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         92,835
<SECURITIES>                                   43,018
<RECEIVABLES>                                  35,573
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               180,326
<PP&E>                                         21,164
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 219,218
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          49,944
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     168,746
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   219,218
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               43,945
<CGS>                                          6,887
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  39,967
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,382
<INCOME-TAX>                                   2,622
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   2,760
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.03