Madoc Batters thrives on challenges. As the head of cloud and IT security at Warner Leisure Hotels, he’s taken on a significant task: spearheading the UK hotel chain’s digital transformation by shifting the business to the cloud for future innovation.
“I’m naturally drawn to change—that’s why I’m here,” Madoc shares. Before stepping into this role in February 2024, he led the cloud center of excellence and operational security at holiday operator Haven. His experience there had him overseeing a digital transformation where he built AWS infrastructure and prepared teams for operational success. “I push companies forward with technology and capabilities,” he says.
Now, Madoc is working on a similar transformation at Warner. His team is in the final stages of migrating on-premise IT to the cloud, shifting around 100 applications and services to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. “We’ve been at it for a year, and we should wrap up this migration in three months,” he explains.
How’s this transition going? So far, he reports, it’s progressing well, though not without its challenges. “Some servers have been sitting for over 30 years. Each time we lift a rock, we discover more outdated tech and tangled systems,” he points out. “We’re also finding old equipment that hasn’t been upgraded. This is a chance to modernize and improve our systems. It’s never boring; we move quickly.”
He cites an example: “We’re introducing a new third-party booking system instead of just migrating an old legacy one. We’ll sunset the old tech and have the new system live this year.”
Reflecting on his first year, Madoc highlights setting up cloud capabilities and rapidly advancing towards on-demand IT as major achievements. He’s also established a security practice and revamped networking to align with the cloud shift. “We’ve redefined our approach,” he notes, opting for a Microsoft-based security stack and using Alkira for infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to improve networking.
“This change streamlines our processes. We’ve moved from long, traditional change management to a more dynamic system, allowing us to adapt our networks and security as quickly as we deliver cloud services,” he says.
Security is a top priority. Madoc’s strategy has two main components. First, he focuses on end-user computing and has layered in a Microsoft security stack—Defender for endpoint protection, Sentinel for analyzing internet traffic, and Microsoft 365 for productivity. To enhance security awareness, he’s implemented cyber training for the staff at Warner. “People often are the weak link in security,” he points out. “Training helps everyone know what to avoid and how to stay safe.”
The second focus is on infrastructure security. Madoc believes strongly in “shifting left,” which integrates security into the early phases of the development process. “We work with both in-house and outsourced developers, trying to embed data protection practices throughout,” he explains. “The more people engaged in security from the start, the better our outcomes. Our developers are treated like part of the security team.”
He emphasizes that managing security effectively goes beyond just having a solid strategy. It’s about being proactive in identifying and tracing vulnerabilities. “With so much noise in security, we can automate alerts for genuine issues, thanks to our use of the Wiz cloud security platform. Our systems work in sync with both cloud and on-premise environments, streamlining issue resolution.”
Madoc’s IT team is dedicated to creating the technology foundation that enhances the customer experience. “We’re the platform team, ensuring that the infrastructure is in place for other teams to use efficiently,” he says, recognizing that networks play a critical role. He appreciates Alkira’s end-to-end platform, which connects users directly to multiple clouds.
“I’ve spent years in network roles, and I know firsthand how slowly innovation moves there compared to the cloud. Alkira’s as-a-service model fits our needs perfectly,” he shares. “With infrastructure deployed as code using Terraform, we can adapt it within our pipeline.” He describes how complex security changes that used to take weeks can now be made in minutes, allowing for quicker innovation in services for hotel guests.
“Our goal is to enhance the visitor experience, whether through a booking app, website, or direct booking system. We aim for seamless experiences across all these platforms. Plus, we’re rolling out Alexa devices in rooms, letting guests manage bookings and discover activities hands-free.”
Looking ahead, Madoc’s priority is completing Warner’s cloud migration. After that, he’ll focus on optimizing on-demand services and networks. “Cost management is a key issue with cloud services. We use FinOps to forecast costs before deploying changes,” he explains. “This empowers our engineers to scrutinize previous setups and refine them.”
Madoc champions a proactive service management approach, encouraging team innovation while embracing emerging technologies like generative AI. “You need safeguards, but it’s essential to let your teams explore. If they don’t have access to internal tools, they may find alternate methods that might risk confidentiality,” he says.
He emphasizes staff empowerment, wanting his team involved in decision-making rather than simply following directives. “Being a modern digital leader is about enabling your people to make informed decisions based on data from diverse sources,” he concludes.