SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-K
                              --------------------


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 6, 1997


                              --------------------


                            AXENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                     0-28100                   87-0393420
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission               (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)         File No.)             Identification No.)


            2400 Research Boulevard
                    Suite 200
               Rockville, Maryland                             20850
      (Address of principal executive office)                (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number including area code: (301) 258-5043


<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events.


         On January 6,  1997,  AXENT  Technologies,  Inc.  ("AXENT"),  AssureNet
Pathways,  Inc.  ("AssureNet",  formerly  known as Digital  Pathways,  Inc.) and
Axquisition,  Inc., a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of AXENT,  entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"),  the description of which
herein is qualified in its  entirety by the terms of the Merger  Agreement.  The
Merger Agreement  provides that,  following  approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement by the  stockholders  of AssureNet,  AssureNet will be merged with and
into  Axquisition,  Inc.,  which will be the surviving  corporation and remain a
wholly-owned subsidiary of AXENT. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon
consummation of that merger, AXENT would issue 1,550,000 shares (or such smaller
number as equals  $29,450,000  divided by the Buyer Share Market Value,  as that
term is defined in the Merger Agreement) of its common stock in exchange for (a)
all shares of AssureNet  capital stock  outstanding at the effective time of the
merger,  (b) all shares of AssureNet  common  stock  issuable  upon  exercise of
options issued by AssureNet that are "in-the-money" (i.e., that have an exercise
price per share less than the Common Stock  Conversion  Ratio  multiplied by the
Buyer Share Market  Value,  as those terms are defined in the Merger  Agreement)
and (c) all shares of AssureNet  common stock  issuable upon exercise of options
and warrants  issued or granted by AssureNet on or after  January 6, 1997.  Upon
consummation of that merger,  AXENT will assume all options and warrants granted
or issued by AssureNet. The Merger Agreement is subject to approval by AssureNet
stockholders,  government regulatory approval and certain other standard closing
conditions.  Holders of a majority of AssureNet common shares,  preferred shares
and  Series C  preferred  shares  have  agreed to vote for the  merger.  Closing
currently is expected to occur in late March 1997.

         AXENT expects that the proposed merger with AssureNet will be accounted
for using  purchase  accounting.  In  connection  with that  transaction,  AXENT
expects to take a one-time  charge of $24 million to $32  million for  purchased
in-process  research and  development.  Based upon the closing  price of AXENT's
common  stock on January 6, 1997,  the last full trading day prior to the public
announcement of the proposed merger, the 1,550,000 shares that AXENT would issue
therein would have an aggregate  value of $24.8  million.  The 1,550,000  shares
that AXENT would issue in the  proposed  merger would  constitute  approximately
13.3% of the shares of AXENT's common stock outstanding at December 31, 1996.

         Concurrent  with the execution of the Merger  Agreement,  AssureNet and
AXENT  entered  into a  Management  Agreement,  the form of which is attached as
Exhibit  G to the  Merger  Agreement  and the  description  of which  herein  is
qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Management Agreement.  The parties
entered into the  Management  Agreement with the  expectation  that the proposed
merger  would be  consummated  and that,  in the  meanwhile,  the parties  would
benefit if AXENT could make and implement good faith  decisions to integrate the
operations  and products of AssureNet  with those of AXENT.  AXENT has authority
under the  Management  Agreement to manage all the business  and  operations  of
AssureNet from January 6, 1997 to the effective  time of the Merger,  unless the
Management Agreement is otherwise terminated. AXENT will use its best efforts to
consult  with and  inform  the Chief  Financial  Officer  (or other  appropriate
officer) of  AssureNet  of actions  proposed  to be taken  under the  Management
Agreement,  and will obtain the  approval of  AssureNet's  directors if required
under  AssureNet's  charter  documents  or  California  law.  AXENT will use its
reasonable  business judgment and will treat AssureNet's assets as it treats its
own assets in the course of running AXENT's own business.  AXENT will receive no
fees for its services under the Management Agreement,  but will be reimbursed by
AssureNet for equipment,  reasonable  travel costs and related expenses incurred
under  the   Management   Agreement.   The   Management   Agreement   terminates
automatically if the Merger Agreement  terminates and may be terminated by AXENT
at any time.

          The Merger  Agreement and exhibits thereto are expected to be filed as
part of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 on or about January 22, 1997.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number                                          Description
------                                          -----------

99.1                             Press Release of AXENT dated January 7, 1997

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                  AXENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



Date:  January 22, 1997                            By:  /s/ John C. Becker
                                                   --------------------
                                                   John C. Becker, President and
                                                    Chief Operating Officer



<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index

                                                                  Sequentially
Exhibit No.                   Description                         Numbered Page

99.1                       Press Release of AXENT dated                6
                           January 7, 1997
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 7031}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AXENT TECHNOLOGIES INC", "cik": "0001007997", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "870393420", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-28100", "film-number": "97509030"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2400 RESEARCH BLVD", "street2": "STE 200", "city": "ROCKVILLE", "state": "MD", "zip": "20850", "phone": "3012585043"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2400 RESEARCH BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "ROCKVILLE", "state": "MD", "zip": "20850"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-K
                              --------------------

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 6, 1997

                              --------------------

                            AXENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                     0-28100                   87-0393420
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission               (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)         File No.)             Identification No.)

            2400 Research Boulevard
                    Suite 200
               Rockville, Maryland                             20850
      (Address of principal executive office)                (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number including area code: (301) 258-5043
Item 5.  Other Events.

         On January 6,  1997,  AXENT  Technologies,  Inc.  ("AXENT"),  AssureNet
Pathways,  Inc.  ("AssureNet",  formerly  known as Digital  Pathways,  Inc.) and
Axquisition,  Inc., a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of AXENT,  entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"),  the description of which
herein is qualified in its  entirety by the terms of the Merger  Agreement.  The
Merger Agreement  provides that,  following  approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement by the  stockholders  of AssureNet,  AssureNet will be merged with and
into  Axquisition,  Inc.,  which will be the surviving  corporation and remain a
wholly-owned subsidiary of AXENT. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon
consummation of that merger, AXENT would issue 1,550,000 shares (or such smaller
number as equals  $29,450,000  divided by the Buyer Share Market Value,  as that
term is defined in the Merger Agreement) of its common stock in exchange for (a)
all shares of AssureNet  capital stock  outstanding at the effective time of the
merger,  (b) all shares of AssureNet  common  stock  issuable  upon  exercise of
options issued by AssureNet that are "in-the-money" (i.e., that have an exercise
price per share less than the Common Stock  Conversion  Ratio  multiplied by the
Buyer Share Market  Value,  as those terms are defined in the Merger  Agreement)
and (c) all shares of AssureNet  common stock  issuable upon exercise of options
and warrants  issued or granted by AssureNet on or after  January 6, 1997.  Upon
consummation of that merger,  AXENT will assume all options and warrants granted
or issued by AssureNet. The Merger Agreement is subject to approval by AssureNet
stockholders,  government regulatory approval and certain other standard closing
conditions.  Holders of a majority of AssureNet common shares,  preferred shares
and  Series C  preferred  shares  have  agreed to vote for the  merger.  Closing
currently is expected to occur in late March 1997.

         AXENT expects that the proposed merger with AssureNet will be accounted
for using  purchase  accounting.  In  connection  with that  transaction,  AXENT
expects to take a one-time  charge of $24 million to $32  million for  purchased
in-process  research and  development.  Based upon the closing  price of AXENT's
common  stock on January 6, 1997,  the last full trading day prior to the public
announcement of the proposed merger, the 1,550,000 shares that AXENT would issue
therein would have an aggregate  value of $24.8  million.  The 1,550,000  shares
that AXENT would issue in the  proposed  merger would  constitute  approximately
13.3% of the shares of AXENT's common stock outstanding at December 31, 1996.

         Concurrent  with the execution of the Merger  Agreement,  AssureNet and
AXENT  entered  into a  Management  Agreement,  the form of which is attached as
Exhibit  G to the  Merger  Agreement  and the  description  of which  herein  is
qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Management Agreement.  The parties
entered into the  Management  Agreement with the  expectation  that the proposed
merger  would be  consummated  and that,  in the  meanwhile,  the parties  would
benefit if AXENT could make and implement good faith  decisions to integrate the
operations  and products of AssureNet  with those of AXENT.  AXENT has authority
under the  Management  Agreement to manage all the business  and  operations  of
AssureNet from January 6, 1997 to the effective  time of the Merger,  unless the
Management Agreement is otherwise terminated. AXENT will use its best efforts to
consult  with and  inform  the Chief  Financial  Officer  (or other  appropriate
officer) of  AssureNet  of actions  proposed  to be taken  under the  Management
Agreement,  and will obtain the  approval of  AssureNet's  directors if required
under  AssureNet's  charter  documents  or  California  law.  AXENT will use its
reasonable  business judgment and will treat AssureNet's assets as it treats its
own assets in the course of running AXENT's own business.  AXENT will receive no
fees for its services under the Management Agreement,  but will be reimbursed by
AssureNet for equipment,  reasonable  travel costs and related expenses incurred
under  the   Management   Agreement.   The   Management   Agreement   terminates
automatically if the Merger Agreement  terminates and may be terminated by AXENT
at any time.

          The Merger  Agreement and exhibits thereto are expected to be filed as
part of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 on or about January 22, 1997.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number                                          Description
------                                          -----------

99.1                             Press Release of AXENT dated January 7, 1997
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                  AXENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Date:  January 22, 1997                            By:  /s/ John C. Becker
                                                   --------------------
                                                   John C. Becker, President and
                                                    Chief Operating Officer
Exhibit Index

                                                                  Sequentially
Exhibit No.                   Description                         Numbered Page

99.1                       Press Release of AXENT dated                6
                           January 7, 1997