You might not have heard of PHP. But there’s a good chance your business website relies on it. Over the past week, a major cyber security issue affecting PHP has put website owners and hosting providers around the world on high alert. And this isn’t just another technical headline that businesses can afford to ignore.
So, what has happened?
PHP is a programming language that runs behind a huge number of websites and online services. It’s commonly used by platforms such as WordPress, which many businesses rely on for their websites.
Security researchers identified two critical vulnerabilities in PHP that could allow attackers to run malicious code on affected web servers, potentially giving them access to systems and data. The issue was serious enough to prompt urgent security warnings, emergency software updates and disruption to some government websites internationally.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has advised organisations to identify systems running PHP and ensure the necessary security updates are applied as a priority.
In plain English, the problem isn’t necessarily with your website itself. It could be with the underlying technology that makes it work. And that makes it particularly important to understand who’s responsible for keeping that technology secure.
Why should Highland businesses care?
For many local businesses, a website is more than an online brochure. It’s where customers find you, make enquiries, book services, buy products and decide whether to trust your business.
Whether you’re running a hotel in Inverness, a trades business in the Highlands, a professional services firm or a small local organisation, your website is part of your business infrastructure.
If the technology behind it has a serious security flaw, the potential consequences go beyond a website being unavailable. Depending on the circumstances, an attacker could compromise the server, access data or interfere with the website. You don’t need to understand the technical detail. But you do need to know that someone is looking after it.
What are we doing at sfG?
We’ve been working through the issue across our own websites and the customer sites we host. We’ve addressed the issue on our own WordPress websites and any affected hosted customer sites, and we’re now awaiting our hosting provider to roll out the update when it’s available.
That means taking practical steps to address the exposure, working with our hosting provider on the remaining update, and keeping the issue on our radar rather than assuming someone else will deal with it. It’s also a useful reminder that website security isn’t simply about installing a plugin, renewing a domain name or making sure your website looks good on a mobile.
It involves understanding the technology underneath it, keeping track of emerging threats, knowing which systems are affected and working with the right people to get things sorted.
The value of having someone in your corner
For a small or medium-sized business, keeping up with every security announcement, software update and emerging threat is a big ask. You’ve got a business to run.
That’s where having a trusted IT partner can make a real difference. Not because every issue can be prevented, or because a single update makes everything secure. But because when something serious happens, you have someone who can help you understand the risk, identify what needs attention and coordinate the response.
At sfG, we’re proud to work with businesses across the Highlands, providing practical IT support and software solutions with a team of real, local people who understand our customers and their businesses. Sometimes, the most valuable part of IT support is the work you never see happening in the background.
A quick reminder for business owners about PHP
If your website is managed by an external developer or hosting company, now is a good time to ask a few straightforward questions:
- Does my website or any of its underlying services use PHP?
- Has the latest relevant security update been applied, or are temporary protective measures in place while an update is pending?
- Has the provider checked for signs of compromise, where appropriate?
- Is anyone monitoring for further updates or actions that might be needed?
You don’t need to become a cyber security expert overnight. You just need to make sure the right questions are being asked. The internet relies on a lot of technology that most of us never see. When something goes wrong at that level, it can affect businesses of every size, right here in the Highlands.
The lesson? Don’t wait for a problem to become a business problem before asking who’s looking after your IT and website security.
And if you’re not sure, it’s worth finding out.
For official guidance, see the UK National Cyber Security Centre’s alert on the PHP vulnerabilities.
