🛡️ RISK BADGE: 🟠 MEDIUM (SysAdmin Required)
Executive Summary: What is it?
The LAMP Stack is the grandfather of the modern web. It stands for Linux (OS), Apache (Web Server), MySQL (Database), and PHP (Language). It powered the Web 2.0 revolution (WordPress, Drupal, PrestaShop) and remains the most common hosting environment globally.
CFO / Business Impact: What does it cost/risk?
Cheap but Labor Intensive.
- Pros: Hosting is commoditized. You can run a LAMP stack on a $5/mo VPS or a shared host. Talent is abundant and affordable.
- Cons: It is not "Serverless." You are responsible for OS patches, PHP version upgrades, and database backups. If the server goes down at 3 AM, you (or your agency) are the support team.
Technical Reality: How does it work?
It is a monolithic architecture. Unlike modern microservices, everything usually runs on one or two servers.
- Performance: fast for read-heavy sites, but requires caching layers (Varnish/Redis) to scale.
- Security: Highly secure if maintained, but a common target for automated bots due to its popularity.