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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 XuOqiTaZxjafVY0ndIndkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001278153-04-000001.txt : 20040823
<SEC-HEADER>0001278153-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040823
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040823171657
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001278153-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040823
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040823

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORGENSTERN SHLOMIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001177243

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19771
		FILM NUMBER:		04992521

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DATA SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE INC
		STREET 2:		200 ROUTE 17
		CITY:			MAHWAH
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2015292026

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DATA SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880984
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES [7371]
		IRS NUMBER:				222786081
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 RTE 17
		CITY:			MAHWAH
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2015292026

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 ROUTE 17
		CITY:			MAHWAH
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DEFENSE SOFTWARE & SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880984</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DATA SYSTEMS &amp; SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DSSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001177243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORGENSTERN SHLOMIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DATA SYSTEMS &amp; SOFTWARE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 ROUTE 17</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAHWAH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07430</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President - Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>195000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>216000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>305000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>305000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>305000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock granted under issuer's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan.  100,000 shares vested on August 19, 2004, 31,666 will vest on August 18, 2006, 31,667 will vest on August 18, 2007, and 31,667 will vest on August 18, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">105,000 options become exercisable on 8/18/2006; 100,000 options become exercisable on 2/18/2007; and 100,000 options become exercisable on 2/18/2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Shlomie Morgenstern</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
