A method for performing video analytics includes receiving at a source end video data including first video data relating to an event of interest. Using video analytics, other than a data compression process, pre-processing of the video data is performed at the source end to reduce the bandwidth requirement for transmitting the video data to below a bandwidth limit of a Wide Area Network (WAN) over which the video data is to be transmitted. The pre-processed video data is transmitted to a central server via the WAN, where other video analytics processing of the pre-processed video data is performed. Based on a result of the other video analytics processing, a signal is generated for performing a predetermined action, in response to an occurrence of the event of interest at the source end.