Secure PHP Version Upgrade

I need the PHP stack on my Ubuntu/Debian-based cloud VPS brought up to the latest supported version so the server benefits from current security patches and long-term support.
You will have root or sudo access (provided once we start) and full freedom to use apt, source builds, or a trusted PPA—whichever best guarantees stability. My priority is a smooth, well-documented upgrade with minimal downtime.

Key things I expect you to handle:

• Audit the current PHP version, active modules, and dependencies.
• Back up configs and any affected virtual hosts or FPM pools.
• Install and switch to the newest stable PHP release, re-enabling all required extensions.
• Verify that existing sites load correctly, run a quick set of security checks, and roll logs showing no deprecation or fatal errors.
• Leave me with a short hand-off note: commands used, files changed, and how to revert if ever necessary.

If you have experience performing PHP upgrades on Ubuntu or Debian in a cloud/VPS environment and can complete this without service disruption, let’s get started.