Trade Secret Management

Definition

The organisational practices and technical measures used to identify, protect, and leverage commercially valuable confidential business information — including formulae, processes, algorithms, customer lists, and business strategies — that derives value from remaining secret. Effective trade secret management requires confidentiality agreements, access controls, employee training, and documented security protocols. Trade secrets protected under the EU Trade Secrets Directive and US Defend Trade Secrets Act can be valued as intangible assets provided their secrecy is actively maintained.