See why 90% of Magento websites run on unsupported PHP versions

90% MAGENTO WEBSITES RUN ON UNSUPPORTED VERSIONS OF PHP. WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM AND HOW CAN YOU (WE) SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

Globally the vast majority of Magento stores also operate on an obsolete and incompatible edition of PHP. If you’re on anything below version 7.2, you’re likely missing out on some improvements in performance. More important, though, you expose your store to an increased risk of potential exploits. Why does it matter? Why upgrade the PHP version? Together with SmartOSC to clarify the details 90% of Magento websites run on unsupported versions of PH through the following article

WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM LIES? WHY IS VERSION OF PHP SO IMPORTANT?

Okay, let’s continue with what this whole issue is about–the edition of PHP is actually the variant of the programming language used by the website. And it’s simple–new versions are getting the support and updates, old ones are being slowly discontinued. Truly the Circle of Life. Additionally, performance-wise, newer versions are better, and most of the new programming solutions are likely to be built on the latest versions, and outdated ones lack backward compatibility. So, in a nutshell, because of two basic things-security and performance-you should be on one of the supported (if not the latest) versions of PHP.

See more articles: https://www.smartosc.com/insights/magento-development-service-company

PHP SUPPORTED VERSIONS AND TIMELINES:

Here is a quick rundown of the PHP versions and how they fare when it comes to support and security updates available:

• 7.3 and 7.4 – fully supported versions
• 7.2 – under security support until Nov 2020
• 7.1 – recently discontinued security support (Dec 2019)
• 7.0 – no support since December 2018
• 5.6 and older – no support since December 2018

Full data for this is available on the official PHP website.

See more articles: Magento Agency

DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE TO UPGRADE TO MAGENTO 2 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

You don’t, just for the sake of being on the supported version of PHP. There are some advantages to migrating to Magento 2, and for some merchants, this can be an overkill. But, for the sake of this topic, you can stay on Magento 1 and make sure you are running on one of the newer versions of PHP.

I’M USING MAGENTO 2, SO I SHOULD BE OK, RIGHT?

Well, it depends, It depends on the version of Magento 2 you are using. It’s not a given that you are automatically on one of the supported PHP versions. Magento 2.3.x versions fully support PHP 7.2 version, so if you are there, you should be safe when it comes to PHP version for now. This post is one piece to raise the awareness of merchants, their solution and hosting partners, around this particular topic. 

Running on one of the latest PHP versions is a quick win to improving both the security and performance of an online store. Security, however, doesn’t start and end with the version of PHP or Magento you are using. You should always be on the lookout for the official Magento patches that are coming out. And have an open conversation about your security plans with your partners.

See more articles: https://www.smartosc.com/insights/top-10-magento-ecommerce-development-companies-in-singapore

WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS?

Running on the supported PHP version will not make miracles happen for your store. But, it can prevent a lot of potentially bad things from happening. The overall security and performance of any webshop is a much broader topic to cover. However, certain things (like the one described in this post) can definitely help you improve in both areas. And the good news is, they shouldn’t create too much of a burden on ongoing business. To clarify some things that may create confusion, and to give you some action points:

1. If you are running a Magento 1 store on an unsupported PHP version, you should definitely update the PHP version. And do it as soon as possible. This is much more important than updating your Magento 1 store or planning a migration to Magento 2.
2. If you are on Magento 2, make sure you are using one of its latest releases (2.3.x).
3. If you are on the fence about the whole M1 to M2 thing, In any case, before anything, consult with your development and hosting partners. They should be the ones to assist you with the actual next steps, because they (should) know your website inside out and guide you throughout this process.

Article source: Magento VietNam