If your PHP version is over 3 years old, you probably know that the support you receive from the PHP Community has now come to an end. And since your version won’t receive any more security updates, it’s recommended that you stop using it to avoid exposing your site to vulnerabilities. So where does this leave you? That’s where PHP Extended Support comes in.
What is PHP Extended Support?
As a Fasthosts customer, you can get access to PHP Extended Support. This means we’ll patch critical security vulnerabilities and fix bugs as they’re found in your discontinued PHP version. This means your project or site will stay online, uninterrupted, and secure at all times.
Whatever version you currently use will continue to run as normal, until you decide to upgrade it to a supported version.
Why do you need it?
As previously mentioned, once your support from the community runs out, you’re exposed to a load of security risks. But you may not want to upgrade your version just yet. So if you want to stay where you are, but don’t want to be vulnerable to attacks, PHP Extended Support is the answer. It’s designed to provide a convenient solution for those who don’t want to upgrade just yet.
Upgrading your PHP version can be time consuming and expensive, often needing significant code changes that many teams just don’t have the resource for. With Extended Support, you have the flexibility to switch versions whenever you like, with no time pressure and the option to roll back if needed.
Why do you pay for it?
Without security protection on your PHP version, you’re open to attacks which can have massive financial repercussions on your business or project.
According to the UK Government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, medium and large businesses that experienced breaches with material outcomes faced average total costs of £12,560 per incident, encompassing direct costs, staff time, and other indirect expenses.
IBM's 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report states that the average cost of a data breach in the UK rose to £3.58 million, driven by factors such as lost business, regulatory fines, and post-breach responses.
Our PHP Extended Support works towards preventing these issues by providing ongoing security patches for the older PHP versions. So you can take your time upgrading while you plan your next version.
Maintaining these older versions requires ongoing investment on our part, including regularly checking for vulnerabilities and exposures, applying patches and performing continuous security updates. As OS updates continue to advance, the complexity of these patches increases, leading to a continual rise in the effort needed to keep legacy PHP environments secure.
How do you stop paying for it?
PHP Extended Support is not contracted – as soon as you switch to a supported version, you'll stop paying for it with no need to contact our support teams. You can upgrade your PHP code following PHP's manuals on code migration per version. Once you verify your PHP scripts are compatible with supported PHP versions, you can manage your current PHP version in your control panel.
Got questions?
If you have any questions about PHP Extended Support, upgrading your PHP version, or any of our other products, please get in touch. You can give us a call on 0333 0142 700 or message us via live chat. Our teams are available 24/7 to help.
