The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is building and will operate the world’s largest radio astronomy facility, comprising telescopes in Australia and South Africa that will enable transformational research across cosmology, galaxy evolution, fundamental physics and the search for the origins of life. The observatory faces unprecedented challenges in software engineering, data processing and infrastructure operations, with the telescopes expected to generate and process data at extreme scale. Through IRIS, SKAO uses computing and cloud resources to support software development, integration testing, operations platforms and the development of the Science Data Processor (SDP) systems that will transform raw telescope signals into scientific data products. IRIS resources also support the development and testing of technologies required for the future global SKA data ecosystem, helping SKAO prepare for full science operations and the delivery of data products to the international astronomy community. This activity is distinct from the UKSRC programme, which focuses on providing data access and analysis capabilities for end users of SKA data.