content: <PAGE>
   
  ================================================================================
   
                        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
                        
  
                                 DECEMBER 17, 1998
                 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)
  
  
                          INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
              (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  <TABLE> 
  <S>                                <C>                       <C>
            CALIFORNIA                       0-21131                         77-0289509
  (State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)
  </TABLE>
  
                               1213 INNSBRUCK DRIVE
                            SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94089
                     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (408) 542-0100
  
                                        N/A
   
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  ================================================================================
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5.   Other Events
            ------------
  
       International Network Services ("INS") is restating the following
  information to give retroactive effect to its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of
  VitalSigns Software, Inc. ("VitalSigns"), which was effective as of November 20,
  1998 and accounted for as a pooling of interests: (i) Consolidated Financial
  Statements at June 30, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the
  period ended June 30, 1998, (ii) unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements at
  September 30, 1998 and for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 1998 and
  1997, and (iii)  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
  Results of Operations which relates to the foregoing financial statements.  Such
  information is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by this
  reference.
  
       Generally accepted accounting principles proscribe giving effect to a
  consummated business combination accounted for by the pooling of interests
  method in financial statements that do not include the date of consummation.
  These financial statements do not extend through the date of consummation.
  However, they will become the historical consolidated financial statements of
  INS and its subsidiaries after financial statements covering the date of
  consummation of the business combination are issued.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
            ---------------------------------
  
            (a)  Financial Statements
  
                 Not Applicable
  
            (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
  
                 Not Applicable
  
            (c)  Exhibits
  
                 23   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                 27.1 Financial Data Schedule Period Type Three Months
                 27.2 Financial Data Schedule Period Type Twelve Months
                 99   Supplemental Financial Information:
                          Report of Independent Accountants
                          Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Income
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of 
                            Shareholders' Equity
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                          Notes to Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements
                          Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
                            Condition and Results of Operations
  <PAGE>
   
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated:  December 17, 1998              INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
  
  
                                         /s/ Kevin J. Laughlin
                                         ---------------------------
                                         Kevin J. Laughlin
                                         Vice President, Finance and 
                                         Chief Financial Officer
  <PAGE>
   
                           INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
  
                             EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
                              Dated December 17, 1998
  
  Exhibit
  
    23        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    27.1      Financial Data Schedule Period Type Three Months
    27.2      Financial Data Schedule Period Type Twelve Months
    99        Supplemental Financial Information:
                 Report of Independent Accountants
                 Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Income
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                 Notes to Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements
                 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
                   Results of Operations
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5412}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES", "cik": "0000889085", "assigned-sic": "7371", "irs-number": "770289509", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-21131", "film-number": "98771470"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1213 INNSBRUCK DRIVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089", "phone": "4085420100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1213 INNSBRUCK DRIVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089"}}
text: ================================================================================
   
                        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
                        
  
                                 DECEMBER 17, 1998
                 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)
  
                          INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
              (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  CALIFORNIA                       0-21131                         77-0289509
  (State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)
  1213 INNSBRUCK DRIVE
                            SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94089
                     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (408) 542-0100
  
                                        N/A
   
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  ================================================================================
  Item 5.   Other Events
            ------------
  
       International Network Services ("INS") is restating the following
  information to give retroactive effect to its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of
  VitalSigns Software, Inc. ("VitalSigns"), which was effective as of November 20,
  1998 and accounted for as a pooling of interests: (i) Consolidated Financial
  Statements at June 30, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the
  period ended June 30, 1998, (ii) unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements at
  September 30, 1998 and for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 1998 and
  1997, and (iii)  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
  Results of Operations which relates to the foregoing financial statements.  Such
  information is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by this
  reference.
  
       Generally accepted accounting principles proscribe giving effect to a
  consummated business combination accounted for by the pooling of interests
  method in financial statements that do not include the date of consummation.
  These financial statements do not extend through the date of consummation.
  However, they will become the historical consolidated financial statements of
  INS and its subsidiaries after financial statements covering the date of
  consummation of the business combination are issued.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
            ---------------------------------
  
            (a)  Financial Statements
  
                 Not Applicable
  
            (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
  
                 Not Applicable
  
            (c)  Exhibits
  
                 23   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                 27.1 Financial Data Schedule Period Type Three Months
                 27.2 Financial Data Schedule Period Type Twelve Months
                 99   Supplemental Financial Information:
                          Report of Independent Accountants
                          Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Income
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of 
                            Shareholders' Equity
                          Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                          Notes to Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements
                          Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
                            Condition and Results of Operations
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated:  December 17, 1998              INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
  
                                         /s/ Kevin J. Laughlin
                                         ---------------------------
                                         Kevin J. Laughlin
                                         Vice President, Finance and 
                                         Chief Financial Officer
  INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SERVICES
  
                             EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
                              Dated December 17, 1998
  
  Exhibit
  
    23        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    27.1      Financial Data Schedule Period Type Three Months
    27.2      Financial Data Schedule Period Type Twelve Months
    99        Supplemental Financial Information:
                 Report of Independent Accountants
                 Supplemental Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Income
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
                 Supplemental Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                 Notes to Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements
                 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
                   Results of Operations