What is BioStar Air?
BioStar Air is Suprema's cloud-native physical security platform. It provides the same access control and time & attendance capabilities that organisations expect from BioStar 2 — but with zero on-site server infrastructure. Everything runs on Suprema's secure cloud, accessible from any browser or the BioStar Air mobile app.
For South African organisations that want reliable biometric access control without committing to on-premise server hardware, licensing, and maintenance, BioStar Air offers a compelling alternative.
Key differences from BioStar 2
| Feature | BioStar 2 | BioStar Air |
|---|---|---|
| Server location | On-premise | Suprema Cloud |
| IT overhead | Server maintenance required | Zero — fully managed |
| Updates | Manual | Automatic |
| Mobile app | Limited | Full iOS & Android |
| Pricing | Perpetual licence | Subscription |
Mobile-first credential management
One of BioStar Air's strongest features for the South African market is its mobile credential capability. Administrators can issue BLE and NFC credentials to staff smartphones directly from the BioStar Air console — no physical card issuance, no card printer required. Credentials can be revoked instantly if a device is lost.
For visitor management, BioStar Air's pre-enrolment feature sends a time-limited invitation link to a visitor's email address. The visitor completes facial enrolment via their smartphone before arrival — no registration desk required.
Which Suprema hardware is compatible?
BioStar Air is compatible with the full range of Suprema IP-connected hardware, including:
- BioStation 3 — AI facial recognition and multi-credential terminal
- XPass Q2 — QR/barcode and RFID reader
- BioEntry W3 — outdoor AI facial authentication
- XStation 2 — multi-credential RFID and barcode terminal
POPIA considerations
BioStar Air stores biometric templates in Suprema's certified cloud infrastructure. For South African organisations with POPIA obligations, Suprema provides a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) and complies with ISO/IEC 27001 information security standards. Our team can assist with a POPIA compliance review for your BioStar Air deployment.
Getting started
BioStar Air can be provisioned within 24 hours for proof-of-concept or pilot deployments. Contact Suprema South Africa to arrange a live demonstration.