“Rare Earth” Skills for Cybersecurity: Scarcity, High Value, Crucial to Future Defense

Both areas represent areas where technical capabilities, resource access and security issues intersect in our increasingly technology-related world. Due to these factors, regulatory attention has increased around both as the government recognizes its strategic importance.

The “rare earth” of cybersecurity

Rare Earth has about 17 natural elements, each of which has become mandatory for modern technology and wars, such as smartphones, weapons-accurate guidance systems, magnets for wind farms and electric vehicle motors, and many other use cases.

However, not all rare earths are equal, and four to five are considered the rarest. This analogy can be extended to certain cybersecurity skills, although the levels of rarity to modern security are different. The following can be regarded as the “rare earth” in the cybersecurity world.