SimpliSafe is the brainchild of Eleanor and Chad Laurans, who saw the need for a home security system that’s specifically geared for apartments, urban homes, and sites where you wouldn’t want to install a permanent security system. Their starter kit includes a base station, wireless keypad, entry sensors for protecting windows and doors, and a keychain remote to turn your alarm on and off. You can expand the system with optional add-ons including motion detectors and a panic button. All the components arrive pre-programmed, and the keypad and sensors come with peel-and-stick adhesive strips so they’re ready to be mounted — no drills or screws required.

Since the SimpliSafe setup is so easy and there are no long-term contracts, it’s no hassle to outfit a new graduate’s first off-campus apartment, no matter how short the lease is. And back at the homestead, you won’t have to build a moat around your home to make it safer.