LONDON — Britain's manufacturing sector is facing a growing cybersecurity threat, with a new survey showing that almost one in three UK manufacturers experienced a cyberattack during the past year.

The findings highlight increasing pressure on companies to strengthen digital security as cybercriminals target businesses with increasingly sophisticated attacks. Large manufacturers have described facing a persistent threat, while many firms still lack comprehensive plans for responding to major incidents.

Only around half of surveyed companies have a full plan in place to respond to a cyberattack, raising concerns about how quickly businesses could recover from a serious disruption. Manufacturing firms are particularly exposed because cyber incidents can affect not only computer systems but also production lines, supply chains and customer deliveries.

The warning comes as British industry becomes increasingly dependent on connected machinery, cloud services and digital supply networks. A successful attack could therefore create consequences beyond the targeted company, potentially affecting suppliers and customers across multiple industries.

Cybersecurity specialists are urging manufacturers to improve employee training, strengthen network protection and regularly test their incident-response procedures. Businesses that treat cybersecurity as an operational priority rather than simply an IT issue are likely to be better prepared for future attacks.

The latest figures add to growing concerns about the resilience of Britain's industrial base. With manufacturing companies becoming more digitally connected, protecting critical business systems is increasingly becoming a national economic-security issue as well as a corporate responsibility.