<PAGE>   1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 1999.
                                                     Registration No. 333-______


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                      ------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      ------------------------------------
                          CONCORD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                   <C>
                     Massachusetts                                                 04-2710876
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                            33 Boston Post Road West
                          Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752
                                 (508) 460-4646
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
                      ------------------------------------

                                 1997 Stock Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
                      ------------------------------------

                                 John A. Blaeser
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                          Concord Communications, Inc.
                            33 Boston Post Road West
                          Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752
                                 (508) 460-4646
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                      ------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                           Edwin L. Miller, Jr., Esq.
                         TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT, LLP
                       High Street Tower, 125 High Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 248-7000

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                  --------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
                                       -2-

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      Proposed          Proposed
                                                                       Maximum           Maximum
                                                       Amount         Offering          Aggregate        Amount of
Title of Securities                                     to be         Price Per         Offering        Registration
to be Registered                                     Registered         Share             Price             Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>              <C>               <C>             <C>
1997 STOCK PLAN
Common Stock (Par Value $.01 Per Share)                 1,000,000      $40.94(1)         $40,940,000     $11,381.32

TOTAL:                                                  1,000,000                                        $11,381.32

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)  The price of $40.94 per share, which is the average of the high and low
     prices of the Common Stock of the registrant reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on April/May 5, 1999, is set forth solely for purposes of
     calculating the filing fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) and has been
     used only for those shares without a fixed exercise price.
<PAGE>   3
                                       -3-

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information contained in Part I of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-40645, as pertains to the 1997 Stock Plan, and in Part I of the
Registration Statement on Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-51945 is incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference as of their respective
dates:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act which contains
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         (b) All other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the annual report referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The section entitled "Description of Registrant's Securities to be
Registered" contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on September 12, 1997.

         All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

The information contained in Part II of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-40645, as pertains to the 1997 Stock Plan, and in Part II of
the Registration Statement on Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-51945 is incorporated
by reference into this Registration Statement.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

<TABLE>
         Exhibit No.                Description of Exhibit
         -----------                ----------------------

<S>                                 <C>
         Exhibit 5.1                Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (filed herewith).
         Exhibit 23.1               Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
         Exhibit 23.2               Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed herewith).
         Exhibit 24.1               Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this Registration
                                    Statement).
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
                                      -4-

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Concord Communications, Inc., certifies that it has reasonable
grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Marlboro,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 7th day of May, 1999.

                                        CONCORD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                        By: /s/John A. Blaeser
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John A. Blaeser
                                           Chief Executive Officer and President


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of Concord Communications,
Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint John A. Blaeser and Gary E.
Haroian, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power
to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the capacities
indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
(including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Concord
Communications, Inc., to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be
signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and
all amendments thereto.
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
                  SIGNATURE                                      TITLE(S)                              DATE
                  ---------                                      --------                              ----
<S>                                            <C>                                            <C>
/s/ John A. Blaeser                            Chief Executive Officer, President and         May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------        Director (Principal Executive Officer)
John A. Blaeser                                                                      

 /s/ Gary E. Haroian                           Vice President, Finance and Administration,    May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------        Chief Financial Officer, Clerk and Treasurer
Gary E. Haroian                                (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
                                                                                           
 /s/ Frederick W. W. Bolander                  Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Frederick W. W. Bolander

 /s/ Richard M. Burnes, Jr.                    Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Richard M. Burnes, Jr.

 /s/ Robert C. Hawk                            Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Robert C. Hawk

 /s/ John Robert Held                          Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
John Robert Held

/s/ Deepak Kamra                               Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Deepak Kamra

 /s/ Robert M. Wadsworth                       Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Robert M. Wadsworth
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5
                                  Exhibit Index
                                  -------------



     Exhibit No.                          Description of Exhibit
     -----------                          ----------------------

         5.1            Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP

         23.1           Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in
                        Exhibit 5.1)

         23.2           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

         24.1           Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature
                        page to this Registration Statement)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11740}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CONCORD COMMUNICATIONS INC", "cik": "0000915290", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "042710876", "state-of-incorporation": "MA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-78087", "film-number": "99614496"}, "business-address": {"street1": "33 BOSTON POST ROAD WEST", "city": "MARLBORO", "state": "MA", "zip": "01752", "phone": "5084604646"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "33 BOSTON POST ROAD WEST", "city": "MARLBORO", "state": "MA", "zip": "01752"}}
1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 1999.
                                                     Registration No. 333-______

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                      ------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      ------------------------------------
                          CONCORD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts                                                 04-2710876
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
33 Boston Post Road West
                          Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752
                                 (508) 460-4646
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
                      ------------------------------------

                                 1997 Stock Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
                      ------------------------------------

                                 John A. Blaeser
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                          Concord Communications, Inc.
                            33 Boston Post Road West
                          Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752
                                 (508) 460-4646
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                      ------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                           Edwin L. Miller, Jr., Esq.
                         TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT, LLP
                       High Street Tower, 125 High Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 248-7000

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                  --------------------------------------------
2
                                       -2-

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed          Proposed
                                                                       Maximum           Maximum
                                                       Amount         Offering          Aggregate        Amount of
Title of Securities                                     to be         Price Per         Offering        Registration
to be Registered                                     Registered         Share             Price             Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 STOCK PLAN
Common Stock (Par Value $.01 Per Share)                 1,000,000      $40.94(1)         $40,940,000     $11,381.32

TOTAL:                                                  1,000,000                                        $11,381.32

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  The price of $40.94 per share, which is the average of the high and low
     prices of the Common Stock of the registrant reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on April/May 5, 1999, is set forth solely for purposes of
     calculating the filing fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) and has been
     used only for those shares without a fixed exercise price.
3
                                       -3-

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information contained in Part I of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-40645, as pertains to the 1997 Stock Plan, and in Part I of the
Registration Statement on Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-51945 is incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference as of their respective
dates:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act which contains
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

         (b) All other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
the annual report referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The section entitled "Description of Registrant's Securities to be
Registered" contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on September 12, 1997.

         All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

The information contained in Part II of the Registration Statement on Form S-8,
SEC File No. 333-40645, as pertains to the 1997 Stock Plan, and in Part II of
the Registration Statement on Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-51945 is incorporated
by reference into this Registration Statement.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         Exhibit No.                Description of Exhibit
         -----------                ----------------------
Exhibit 5.1                Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (filed herewith).
         Exhibit 23.1               Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
         Exhibit 23.2               Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed herewith).
         Exhibit 24.1               Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this Registration
                                    Statement).
4
                                      -4-

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Concord Communications, Inc., certifies that it has reasonable
grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Marlboro,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 7th day of May, 1999.

                                        CONCORD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                        By: /s/John A. Blaeser
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John A. Blaeser
                                           Chief Executive Officer and President

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the undersigned officers and directors of Concord Communications,
Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint John A. Blaeser and Gary E.
Haroian, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power
to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the capacities
indicated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
(including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Concord
Communications, Inc., to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be
signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and
all amendments thereto.
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

                  SIGNATURE                                      TITLE(S)                              DATE
                  ---------                                      --------                              ----
/s/ John A. Blaeser                            Chief Executive Officer, President and         May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------        Director (Principal Executive Officer)
John A. Blaeser                                                                      

 /s/ Gary E. Haroian                           Vice President, Finance and Administration,    May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------        Chief Financial Officer, Clerk and Treasurer
Gary E. Haroian                                (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
                                                                                           
 /s/ Frederick W. W. Bolander                  Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Frederick W. W. Bolander

 /s/ Richard M. Burnes, Jr.                    Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Richard M. Burnes, Jr.

 /s/ Robert C. Hawk                            Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Robert C. Hawk

 /s/ John Robert Held                          Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
John Robert Held

/s/ Deepak Kamra                               Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Deepak Kamra

 /s/ Robert M. Wadsworth                       Director                                       May 7, 1999
---------------------------------------
Robert M. Wadsworth
5
                                  Exhibit Index
                                  -------------

     Exhibit No.                          Description of Exhibit
     -----------                          ----------------------

         5.1            Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP

         23.1           Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (contained in
                        Exhibit 5.1)

         23.2           Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

         24.1           Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature
                        page to this Registration Statement)