While you can't always see it or touch it, intellectual property (IP) is likely one of your company's most valuable assets. To keep your trade secrets and other proprietary information safe, it is important to have several layers of protection in place.

With the proliferation of thumb drives, email, file-sharing and cloud storage, stealing a company's trade secrets can be accomplished with the simple click of a mouse. Even more alarming, it is almost always an inside job. A recent Symantec study found that half of all employees take sensitive information with them when they leave a job. A staggering 40 percent plan to use it.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are one the most effective tools for preventing the misappropriation of IP. In basic terms, one party agrees to provide confidential information, while the party receiving the information promises to protect its confidentiality. At minimum, confidentiality agreements should define the term trade secrets, limit how employees can use trade secrets, and outline the legal consequences if they breach the agreement.

Companies frequently require employees, contractors, vendors and potential business partners to sign NDAs. Should information be wrongfully shared or misused, your company will be able to seek an injunction to prevent further disclosure and monetary damages.

Of course, NDAs aren't the only tool available to protect your valuable trade secrets. Other measures include clearly labeling confidential information as such, limiting access to sensitive information, and training employees about how to handle confidential data.