Update Unsupported PHP and MySQL
Challenge
The current system relies on unsupported and end-of-life technologies, which introduces significant risk and operational limitations:<div><br></div><div>PHP 7.2 is end-of-life, meaning it no longer receives security updates or bug fixes, exposing the application to known and future vulnerabilities.</div><div><br></div><div>MySQL 5.7 is no longer supported, increasing the risk of data integrity issues, performance degradation, and security exploits.</div><div><br></div><div>Known vulnerabilities remain unpatched, leaving the system susceptible to cyberattacks, compliance violations, and potential service disruptions.</div><div><br></div><div>These issues collectively increase security risk, maintenance costs, and technical debt, while limiting the ability to scale or integrate modern features.</div>
Solution
Modernize the technology stack by upgrading to supported, secure, and actively maintained versions:<div><br></div><div>Upgrade PHP to a currently supported LTS version (e.g., PHP 8.1 or 8.2) to ensure ongoing security patches and performance improvements.</div><div><br></div><div>Migrate MySQL 5.7 to MySQL 8.0 (or an alternative supported database such as PostgreSQL) to gain enhanced security, improved query performance, and long-term support.</div><div><br></div><div>Implement a vulnerability management and patching strategy to ensure all dependencies and system components remain up to date.</div><div><br></div><div>This modernization will reduce security risks, improve system performance, and ensure long-term maintainability.</div>
Impact
After implementation, the organization will achieve:<div><br></div><div>Significantly reduced security risk through supported software and active patching.</div><div><br></div><div>Improved system stability and performance, with faster execution and optimized database operations.</div><div><br></div><div>Regained compliance readiness, supporting audits and regulatory requirements.</div><div><br></div><div>Lower long-term maintenance costs due to reduced technical debt and easier upgrades.</div><div><br></div><div>Future-ready architecture, enabling scalability, new features, and integrations.</div>