diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 68f4a588a..aa0036f0f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 - (Feature) Extract Pod Details
 - (Feature) Add Timezone management
 - (Bugfix) Always recreate DBServers if they have a leader on it.
+- (Feature) Immutable spec
 
 ## [1.2.15](https://github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/tree/1.2.15) (2022-07-20)
 - (Bugfix) Ensure pod names not too long
diff --git a/cmd/admin.go b/cmd/admin.go
index e49987d36..00e9f6e67 100644
--- a/cmd/admin.go
+++ b/cmd/admin.go
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ func cmdGetAgencyState(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		logger.Err(err).Fatal("failed to create basic data for the connection")
 	}
 
-	if d.Spec.GetMode() != api.DeploymentModeCluster {
-		logger.Fatal("agency state does not work for the \"%s\" deployment \"%s\"", d.Spec.GetMode(),
+	if d.GetAcceptedSpec().GetMode() != api.DeploymentModeCluster {
+		logger.Fatal("agency state does not work for the \"%s\" deployment \"%s\"", d.GetAcceptedSpec().GetMode(),
 			d.GetName())
 	}
 
 	dnsName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSName(d.GetObjectMeta(), api.ServerGroupAgents.AsRole(), d.Status.Members.Agents[0].ID)
-	endpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.Spec.IsSecure(), dnsName)
+	endpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.GetAcceptedSpec().IsSecure(), dnsName)
 	conn := createClient([]string{endpoint}, certCA, auth, connection.ApplicationJSON)
 	leaderID, err := getAgencyLeader(ctx, conn)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func cmdGetAgencyState(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 	}
 
 	dnsLeaderName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSName(d.GetObjectMeta(), api.ServerGroupAgents.AsRole(), leaderID)
-	leaderEndpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.Spec.IsSecure(), dnsLeaderName)
+	leaderEndpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.GetAcceptedSpec().IsSecure(), dnsLeaderName)
 	conn = createClient([]string{leaderEndpoint}, certCA, auth, connection.PlainText)
 	body, err := getAgencyState(ctx, conn)
 	if body != nil {
@@ -146,12 +146,12 @@ func cmdGetAgencyDump(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 		logger.Err(err).Fatal("failed to create basic data for the connection")
 	}
 
-	if d.Spec.GetMode() != api.DeploymentModeCluster {
-		logger.Fatal("agency dump does not work for the \"%s\" deployment \"%s\"", d.Spec.GetMode(),
+	if d.GetAcceptedSpec().GetMode() != api.DeploymentModeCluster {
+		logger.Fatal("agency dump does not work for the \"%s\" deployment \"%s\"", d.GetAcceptedSpec().GetMode(),
 			d.GetName())
 	}
 
-	endpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.Spec.IsSecure(), k8sutil.CreateDatabaseClientServiceDNSName(d.GetObjectMeta()))
+	endpoint := getArangoEndpoint(d.GetAcceptedSpec().IsSecure(), k8sutil.CreateDatabaseClientServiceDNSName(d.GetObjectMeta()))
 	conn := createClient([]string{endpoint}, certCA, auth, connection.ApplicationJSON)
 	body, err := getAgencyDump(ctx, conn)
 	if body != nil {
@@ -205,14 +205,14 @@ func getDeploymentAndCredentials(ctx context.Context,
 	}
 
 	var secrets = kubeCli.CoreV1().Secrets(d.GetNamespace())
-	certCA, err = getCACertificate(ctx, secrets, d.Spec.TLS.GetCASecretName())
+	certCA, err = getCACertificate(ctx, secrets, d.GetAcceptedSpec().TLS.GetCASecretName())
 	if err != nil {
 		err = errors.WithMessage(err, "failed to get CA certificate")
 		return
 	}
 
-	if d.Spec.IsAuthenticated() {
-		auth, err = getJWTTokenFromSecrets(ctx, secrets, d.Spec.Authentication.GetJWTSecretName())
+	if d.GetAcceptedSpec().IsAuthenticated() {
+		auth, err = getJWTTokenFromSecrets(ctx, secrets, d.GetAcceptedSpec().Authentication.GetJWTSecretName())
 		if err != nil {
 			err = errors.WithMessage(err, "failed to get JWT token")
 			return
diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index 9df3b7613..adbfcfdf4 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func init() {
 	f.DurationVar(&operatorTimeouts.reconciliation, "timeout.reconciliation", globals.DefaultReconciliationTimeout, "The reconciliation timeout to the ArangoDB CR")
 	f.DurationVar(&shutdownOptions.delay, "shutdown.delay", defaultShutdownDelay, "The delay before running shutdown handlers")
 	f.DurationVar(&shutdownOptions.timeout, "shutdown.timeout", defaultShutdownTimeout, "Timeout for shutdown handlers")
-	f.BoolVar(&operatorOptions.scalingIntegrationEnabled, "internal.scaling-integration", true, "Enable Scaling Integration")
+	f.BoolVar(&operatorOptions.scalingIntegrationEnabled, "internal.scaling-integration", false, "Enable Scaling Integration")
 	f.Int64Var(&operatorKubernetesOptions.maxBatchSize, "kubernetes.max-batch-size", globals.DefaultKubernetesRequestBatchSize, "Size of batch during objects read")
 	f.Float32Var(&operatorKubernetesOptions.qps, "kubernetes.qps", kclient.DefaultQPS, "Number of queries per second for k8s API")
 	f.IntVar(&operatorKubernetesOptions.burst, "kubernetes.burst", kclient.DefaultBurst, "Burst for the k8s API")
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/README.md b/docs/generated/metrics/README.md
index f44066473..b233ec373 100644
--- a/docs/generated/metrics/README.md
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/README.md
@@ -2,22 +2,26 @@
 
 ## List
 
-|                                                            Name                                                             |     Namespace     |    Group     |  Type   | Description                                                                           |
-|:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:-----------------:|:------------:|:-------:|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-|                           [arangodb_operator_agency_errors](./arangodb_operator_agency_errors.md)                           | arangodb_operator |    agency    | Counter | Current count of agency cache fetch errors                                            |
-|                          [arangodb_operator_agency_fetches](./arangodb_operator_agency_fetches.md)                          | arangodb_operator |    agency    | Counter | Current count of agency cache fetches                                                 |
-|                            [arangodb_operator_agency_index](./arangodb_operator_agency_index.md)                            | arangodb_operator |    agency    |  Gauge  | Current index of the agency cache                                                     |
-|             [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_health_present](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_health_present.md)             | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if local agency cache health is present                                    |
-|                    [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_healthy](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_healthy.md)                    | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency is healthy                                                       |
-|                    [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_leaders](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_leaders.md)                    | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines agency leader vote count                                                   |
-|       [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_commit_offset](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_commit_offset.md)       | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines agency member commit offset                                                |
-|             [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_serving](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_serving.md)             | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency member is reachable                                              |
-|                    [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_present](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_present.md)                    | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if local agency cache is present                                           |
-|                    [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_serving](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_serving.md)                    | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency is serving                                                       |
-|                 [arangodb_operator_engine_panics_recovered](./arangodb_operator_engine_panics_recovered.md)                 | arangodb_operator |    engine    | Counter | Number of Panics recovered inside Operator reconciliation loop                        |
-| [arangodb_operator_members_unexpected_container_exit_codes](./arangodb_operator_members_unexpected_container_exit_codes.md) | arangodb_operator |   members    | Counter | Counter of unexpected restarts in pod (Containers/InitContainers/EphemeralContainers) |
-|                      [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_enabled](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_enabled.md)                      | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  |  Gauge  | Determines if rebalancer is enabled                                                   |
-|                [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_current](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_current.md)                | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  |  Gauge  | Define how many moves are currently in progress                                       |
-|                 [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_failed](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_failed.md)                 | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves failed                                                          |
-|              [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_generated](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_generated.md)              | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves were generated                                                  |
-|              [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_succeeded](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_succeeded.md)              | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves succeeded                                                       |
+|                                                                 Name                                                                  |     Namespace     |    Group     |  Type   | Description                                                                           |
+|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:-----------------:|:------------:|:-------:|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+|                                [arangodb_operator_agency_errors](./arangodb_operator_agency_errors.md)                                | arangodb_operator |    agency    | Counter | Current count of agency cache fetch errors                                            |
+|                               [arangodb_operator_agency_fetches](./arangodb_operator_agency_fetches.md)                               | arangodb_operator |    agency    | Counter | Current count of agency cache fetches                                                 |
+|                                 [arangodb_operator_agency_index](./arangodb_operator_agency_index.md)                                 | arangodb_operator |    agency    |  Gauge  | Current index of the agency cache                                                     |
+|                  [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_health_present](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_health_present.md)                  | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if local agency cache health is present                                    |
+|                         [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_healthy](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_healthy.md)                         | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency is healthy                                                       |
+|                         [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_leaders](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_leaders.md)                         | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines agency leader vote count                                                   |
+|            [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_commit_offset](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_commit_offset.md)            | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines agency member commit offset                                                |
+|                  [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_serving](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_member_serving.md)                  | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency member is reachable                                              |
+|                         [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_present](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_present.md)                         | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if local agency cache is present                                           |
+|                         [arangodb_operator_agency_cache_serving](./arangodb_operator_agency_cache_serving.md)                         | arangodb_operator | agency_cache |  Gauge  | Determines if agency is serving                                                       |
+|                      [arangodb_operator_engine_panics_recovered](./arangodb_operator_engine_panics_recovered.md)                      | arangodb_operator |    engine    | Counter | Number of Panics recovered inside Operator reconciliation loop                        |
+|      [arangodb_operator_members_unexpected_container_exit_codes](./arangodb_operator_members_unexpected_container_exit_codes.md)      | arangodb_operator |   members    | Counter | Counter of unexpected restarts in pod (Containers/InitContainers/EphemeralContainers) |
+|                           [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_enabled](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_enabled.md)                           | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  |  Gauge  | Determines if rebalancer is enabled                                                   |
+|                     [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_current](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_current.md)                     | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  |  Gauge  | Define how many moves are currently in progress                                       |
+|                      [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_failed](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_failed.md)                      | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves failed                                                          |
+|                   [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_generated](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_generated.md)                   | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves were generated                                                  |
+|                   [arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_succeeded](./arangodb_operator_rebalancer_moves_succeeded.md)                   | arangodb_operator |  rebalancer  | Counter | Define how many moves succeeded                                                       |
+|          [arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted](./arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.md)          | arangodb_operator |  resources   |  Gauge  | Defines if ArangoDeployment has been accepted                                         |
+|  [arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors](./arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.md)  | arangodb_operator |  resources   | Counter | Counter for deployment immutable errors                                               |
+|          [arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate](./arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.md)          | arangodb_operator |  resources   |  Gauge  | Defines if ArangoDeployment is uptodate                                               |
+| [arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors](./arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.md) | arangodb_operator |  resources   | Counter | Counter for deployment validation errors                                              |
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_kubernetes_events_created.md b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_kubernetes_events_created.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7ca6476c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_kubernetes_events_created.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# arangodb_operator_kubernetes_events_created (Counter)
+
+## Description
+
+Counter for created events
+
+## Labels
+
+|   Label   | Description          |
+|:---------:|:---------------------|
+| namespace | Deployment Namespace |
+|   name    | Deployment Name      |
+| eventType | Event Type           |
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.md b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9e7c29f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted (Gauge)
+
+## Description
+
+Defines if ArangoDeployment has been accepted
+
+## Labels
+
+|   Label   | Description          |
+|:---------:|:---------------------|
+| namespace | Deployment Namespace |
+|   name    | Deployment Name      |
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.md b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5fc4d07d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors (Counter)
+
+## Description
+
+Counter for deployment immutable errors
+
+## Labels
+
+|   Label   | Description          |
+|:---------:|:---------------------|
+| namespace | Deployment Namespace |
+|   name    | Deployment Name      |
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.md b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6d4017a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate (Gauge)
+
+## Description
+
+Defines if ArangoDeployment is uptodate
+
+## Labels
+
+|   Label   | Description          |
+|:---------:|:---------------------|
+| namespace | Deployment Namespace |
+|   name    | Deployment Name      |
diff --git a/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.md b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe38289cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/generated/metrics/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors (Counter)
+
+## Description
+
+Counter for deployment validation errors
+
+## Labels
+
+|   Label   | Description          |
+|:---------:|:---------------------|
+| namespace | Deployment Namespace |
+|   name    | Deployment Name      |
diff --git a/internal/metrics.yaml b/internal/metrics.yaml
index 8650bd0d0..d664b0acc 100644
--- a/internal/metrics.yaml
+++ b/internal/metrics.yaml
@@ -149,6 +149,43 @@ namespaces:
             description: "Deployment Namespace"
           - key: name
             description: "Deployment Name"
+    resources:
+      arangodeployment_validation_errors:
+        shortDescription: "Counter for deployment validation errors"
+        description: "Counter for deployment validation errors"
+        type: "Counter"
+        labels:
+          - key: namespace
+            description: "Deployment Namespace"
+          - key: name
+            description: "Deployment Name"
+      arangodeployment_immutable_errors:
+        shortDescription: "Counter for deployment immutable errors"
+        description: "Counter for deployment immutable errors"
+        type: "Counter"
+        labels:
+          - key: namespace
+            description: "Deployment Namespace"
+          - key: name
+            description: "Deployment Name"
+      arangodeployment_accepted:
+        shortDescription: "Defines if ArangoDeployment has been accepted"
+        description: "Defines if ArangoDeployment has been accepted"
+        type: "Gauge"
+        labels:
+          - key: namespace
+            description: "Deployment Namespace"
+          - key: name
+            description: "Deployment Name"
+      arangodeployment_uptodate:
+        shortDescription: "Defines if ArangoDeployment is uptodate"
+        description: "Defines if ArangoDeployment is uptodate"
+        type: "Gauge"
+        labels:
+          - key: namespace
+            description: "Deployment Namespace"
+          - key: name
+            description: "Deployment Name"
     members:
       unexpected_container_exit_codes:
         shortDescription: "Counter of unexpected restarts in pod (Containers/InitContainers/EphemeralContainers)"
diff --git a/internal/timezones.go.tmpl b/internal/timezones.go.tmpl
index 44d38a880..d776cb5e1 100644
--- a/internal/timezones.go.tmpl
+++ b/internal/timezones.go.tmpl
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ type Timezone struct {
 }
 
 func (t Timezone) GetData() ([]byte, bool) {
-    if d, ok := timezonesData[t.Name]; ok {
+    if d, ok := timezonesData[t.Parent]; ok {
 		if d, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(d); err == nil {
 			return d, true
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/conditions.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/conditions.go
index d109dcc44..918aac8f0 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/conditions.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/conditions.go
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ const (
 	ConditionTypeTerminating ConditionType = "Terminating"
 	// ConditionTypeUpToDate indicates that the deployment is up to date.
 	ConditionTypeUpToDate ConditionType = "UpToDate"
+	// ConditionTypeSpecAccepted indicates that the deployment spec has been accepted.
+	ConditionTypeSpecAccepted ConditionType = "SpecAccepted"
 	// ConditionTypeMarkedToRemove indicates that the member is marked to be removed.
 	ConditionTypeMarkedToRemove ConditionType = "MarkedToRemove"
 	// ConditionTypeUpgradeFailed indicates that upgrade failed
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment.go
index ec18921a0..458f042a3 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment.go
@@ -73,27 +73,68 @@ func (d *ArangoDeployment) ForeachServerGroup(cb ServerGroupFunc, status *Deploy
 	if status == nil {
 		status = &d.Status
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupAgents, d.Spec.Agents, &status.Members.Agents); err != nil {
+	return d.foreachServerGroup(cb, d.Spec, status)
+}
+
+// ForeachServerGroupAccepted calls the given callback for all accepted server groups.
+// If the callback returns an error, this error is returned and no other server
+// groups are processed.
+// Groups are processed in this order: agents, single, dbservers, coordinators, syncmasters, syncworkers
+func (d *ArangoDeployment) ForeachServerGroupAccepted(cb ServerGroupFunc, status *DeploymentStatus) error {
+	if status == nil {
+		status = &d.Status
+	}
+	spec := d.Spec
+	if a := status.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+		spec = *a
+	}
+	return d.foreachServerGroup(cb, spec, status)
+}
+
+func (d *ArangoDeployment) foreachServerGroup(cb ServerGroupFunc, spec DeploymentSpec, status *DeploymentStatus) error {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupAgents, spec.Agents, &status.Members.Agents); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSingle, d.Spec.Single, &status.Members.Single); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSingle, spec.Single, &status.Members.Single); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupDBServers, d.Spec.DBServers, &status.Members.DBServers); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupDBServers, spec.DBServers, &status.Members.DBServers); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupCoordinators, d.Spec.Coordinators, &status.Members.Coordinators); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupCoordinators, spec.Coordinators, &status.Members.Coordinators); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncMasters, d.Spec.SyncMasters, &status.Members.SyncMasters); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncMasters, spec.SyncMasters, &status.Members.SyncMasters); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncWorkers, d.Spec.SyncWorkers, &status.Members.SyncWorkers); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncWorkers, spec.SyncWorkers, &status.Members.SyncWorkers); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+// IsAccepted checks if accepted version match current version in spec
+func (d ArangoDeployment) IsAccepted() (bool, error) {
+	if as := d.Status.AcceptedSpecVersion; as != nil {
+		sha, err := d.Spec.Checksum()
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		return *as == sha, nil
+	}
+
+	return false, nil
+}
+
+func (d ArangoDeployment) GetAcceptedSpec() DeploymentSpec {
+	if a := d.Status.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+		return *a
+	} else {
+		return d.Spec
+	}
+}
+
 // IsUpToDate checks if applied version match current version in spec
 func (d ArangoDeployment) IsUpToDate() (bool, error) {
 	sha, err := d.Spec.Checksum()
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment_status.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment_status.go
index 94d23206b..82edead99 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment_status.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/deployment_status.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ type DeploymentStatus struct {
 	// AppliedVersion defines checksum of applied spec
 	AppliedVersion string `json:"appliedVersion"`
 
+	// AcceptedSpecVersion defines checksum of accepted spec
+	AcceptedSpecVersion *string `json:"acceptedSpecVersion,omitempty"`
+
 	// ServiceName holds the name of the Service a client can use (inside the k8s cluster)
 	// to access ArangoDB.
 	ServiceName string `json:"serviceName,omitempty"`
@@ -117,6 +120,7 @@ func (ds *DeploymentStatus) Equal(other DeploymentStatus) bool {
 		ds.Plan.Equal(other.Plan) &&
 		ds.HighPriorityPlan.Equal(other.HighPriorityPlan) &&
 		ds.ResourcesPlan.Equal(other.ResourcesPlan) &&
+		util.CompareStringPointers(ds.AcceptedSpecVersion, other.AcceptedSpecVersion) &&
 		ds.AcceptedSpec.Equal(other.AcceptedSpec) &&
 		ds.SecretHashes.Equal(other.SecretHashes) &&
 		ds.Agency.Equal(other.Agency) &&
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 604f9fe84..a48e1c45d 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -1101,6 +1101,11 @@ func (in *DeploymentSpec) DeepCopy() *DeploymentSpec {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *DeploymentStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *DeploymentStatus) {
 	*out = *in
+	if in.AcceptedSpecVersion != nil {
+		in, out := &in.AcceptedSpecVersion, &out.AcceptedSpecVersion
+		*out = new(string)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.Restore != nil {
 		in, out := &in.Restore, &out.Restore
 		*out = new(DeploymentRestoreResult)
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/conditions.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/conditions.go
index 84297032d..4a01145a5 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/conditions.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/conditions.go
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ const (
 	ConditionTypeTerminating ConditionType = "Terminating"
 	// ConditionTypeUpToDate indicates that the deployment is up to date.
 	ConditionTypeUpToDate ConditionType = "UpToDate"
+	// ConditionTypeSpecAccepted indicates that the deployment spec has been accepted.
+	ConditionTypeSpecAccepted ConditionType = "SpecAccepted"
 	// ConditionTypeMarkedToRemove indicates that the member is marked to be removed.
 	ConditionTypeMarkedToRemove ConditionType = "MarkedToRemove"
 	// ConditionTypeUpgradeFailed indicates that upgrade failed
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment.go
index 674ffe224..554b0b0a9 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment.go
@@ -73,27 +73,68 @@ func (d *ArangoDeployment) ForeachServerGroup(cb ServerGroupFunc, status *Deploy
 	if status == nil {
 		status = &d.Status
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupAgents, d.Spec.Agents, &status.Members.Agents); err != nil {
+	return d.foreachServerGroup(cb, d.Spec, status)
+}
+
+// ForeachServerGroupAccepted calls the given callback for all accepted server groups.
+// If the callback returns an error, this error is returned and no other server
+// groups are processed.
+// Groups are processed in this order: agents, single, dbservers, coordinators, syncmasters, syncworkers
+func (d *ArangoDeployment) ForeachServerGroupAccepted(cb ServerGroupFunc, status *DeploymentStatus) error {
+	if status == nil {
+		status = &d.Status
+	}
+	spec := d.Spec
+	if a := status.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+		spec = *a
+	}
+	return d.foreachServerGroup(cb, spec, status)
+}
+
+func (d *ArangoDeployment) foreachServerGroup(cb ServerGroupFunc, spec DeploymentSpec, status *DeploymentStatus) error {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupAgents, spec.Agents, &status.Members.Agents); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSingle, d.Spec.Single, &status.Members.Single); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSingle, spec.Single, &status.Members.Single); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupDBServers, d.Spec.DBServers, &status.Members.DBServers); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupDBServers, spec.DBServers, &status.Members.DBServers); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupCoordinators, d.Spec.Coordinators, &status.Members.Coordinators); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupCoordinators, spec.Coordinators, &status.Members.Coordinators); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncMasters, d.Spec.SyncMasters, &status.Members.SyncMasters); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncMasters, spec.SyncMasters, &status.Members.SyncMasters); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncWorkers, d.Spec.SyncWorkers, &status.Members.SyncWorkers); err != nil {
+	if err := cb(ServerGroupSyncWorkers, spec.SyncWorkers, &status.Members.SyncWorkers); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+// IsAccepted checks if accepted version match current version in spec
+func (d ArangoDeployment) IsAccepted() (bool, error) {
+	if as := d.Status.AcceptedSpecVersion; as != nil {
+		sha, err := d.Spec.Checksum()
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+
+		return *as == sha, nil
+	}
+
+	return false, nil
+}
+
+func (d ArangoDeployment) GetAcceptedSpec() DeploymentSpec {
+	if a := d.Status.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+		return *a
+	} else {
+		return d.Spec
+	}
+}
+
 // IsUpToDate checks if applied version match current version in spec
 func (d ArangoDeployment) IsUpToDate() (bool, error) {
 	sha, err := d.Spec.Checksum()
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment_status.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment_status.go
index 67569def3..cdac58f13 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment_status.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/deployment_status.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ type DeploymentStatus struct {
 	// AppliedVersion defines checksum of applied spec
 	AppliedVersion string `json:"appliedVersion"`
 
+	// AcceptedSpecVersion defines checksum of accepted spec
+	AcceptedSpecVersion *string `json:"acceptedSpecVersion,omitempty"`
+
 	// ServiceName holds the name of the Service a client can use (inside the k8s cluster)
 	// to access ArangoDB.
 	ServiceName string `json:"serviceName,omitempty"`
@@ -117,6 +120,7 @@ func (ds *DeploymentStatus) Equal(other DeploymentStatus) bool {
 		ds.Plan.Equal(other.Plan) &&
 		ds.HighPriorityPlan.Equal(other.HighPriorityPlan) &&
 		ds.ResourcesPlan.Equal(other.ResourcesPlan) &&
+		util.CompareStringPointers(ds.AcceptedSpecVersion, other.AcceptedSpecVersion) &&
 		ds.AcceptedSpec.Equal(other.AcceptedSpec) &&
 		ds.SecretHashes.Equal(other.SecretHashes) &&
 		ds.Agency.Equal(other.Agency) &&
diff --git a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index e2db2cda9..f0e4471b2 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/deployment/v2alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -1101,6 +1101,11 @@ func (in *DeploymentSpec) DeepCopy() *DeploymentSpec {
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *DeploymentStatus) DeepCopyInto(out *DeploymentStatus) {
 	*out = *in
+	if in.AcceptedSpecVersion != nil {
+		in, out := &in.AcceptedSpecVersion, &out.AcceptedSpecVersion
+		*out = new(string)
+		**out = **in
+	}
 	if in.Restore != nil {
 		in, out := &in.Restore, &out.Restore
 		*out = new(DeploymentRestoreResult)
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/access_package.go b/pkg/deployment/access_package.go
index 5b4e7bbf9..7180bbca4 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/access_package.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/access_package.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ const (
 // in spec.sync.externalAccess.accessPackageSecretNames.
 func (d *Deployment) createAccessPackages(ctx context.Context) error {
 	log := d.sectionLogger("access-package")
-	spec := d.apiObject.Spec
+	spec := d.GetSpec()
 
 	if !spec.Sync.IsEnabled() {
 		// We're only relevant when sync is enabled
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ func (d *Deployment) createAccessPackages(ctx context.Context) error {
 					if err != nil && !k8sutil.IsNotFound(err) {
 						// Not serious enough to stop everything now, just sectionLogger and create an event
 						log.Err(err).Warn("Failed to remove obsolete access package secret")
-						d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Access Package cleanup failed", err, d.apiObject))
+						d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Access Package cleanup failed", err, d.currentObject))
 					} else {
 						// Access package removed, notify user
 						log.Str("secret-name", secret.GetName()).Info("Removed access package Secret")
-						d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewAccessPackageDeletedEvent(d.apiObject, secret.GetName()))
+						d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewAccessPackageDeletedEvent(d.currentObject, secret.GetName()))
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) createAccessPackages(ctx context.Context) error {
 // it is does not already exist.
 func (d *Deployment) ensureAccessPackage(ctx context.Context, apSecretName string) error {
 	log := d.sectionLogger("access-package")
-	spec := d.apiObject.Spec
+	spec := d.GetSpec()
 
 	_, err := d.acs.CurrentClusterCache().Secret().V1().Read().Get(ctx, apSecretName, meta.GetOptions{})
 	if err == nil {
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) ensureAccessPackage(ctx context.Context, apSecretName strin
 		ObjectMeta: meta.ObjectMeta{
 			Name: apSecretName + "-auth",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				labelKeyOriginalDeployment: d.apiObject.GetName(),
+				labelKeyOriginalDeployment: d.currentObject.GetName(),
 			},
 		},
 		Data: map[string][]byte{
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) ensureAccessPackage(ctx context.Context, apSecretName strin
 		ObjectMeta: meta.ObjectMeta{
 			Name: apSecretName + "-ca",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				labelKeyOriginalDeployment: d.apiObject.GetName(),
+				labelKeyOriginalDeployment: d.currentObject.GetName(),
 			},
 		},
 		Data: map[string][]byte{
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) ensureAccessPackage(ctx context.Context, apSecretName strin
 		},
 	}
 	// Attach secret to owner
-	secret.SetOwnerReferences(append(secret.GetOwnerReferences(), d.apiObject.AsOwner()))
+	secret.SetOwnerReferences(append(secret.GetOwnerReferences(), d.currentObject.AsOwner()))
 	err = globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().RunWithTimeout(ctx, func(ctxChild context.Context) error {
 		_, err := d.SecretsModInterface().Create(ctxChild, secret, meta.CreateOptions{})
 		return err
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) ensureAccessPackage(ctx context.Context, apSecretName strin
 
 	// Write sectionLogger entry & create event
 	log.Str("secret-name", apSecretName).Info("Created access package Secret")
-	d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewAccessPackageCreatedEvent(d.apiObject, apSecretName))
+	d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewAccessPackageCreatedEvent(d.currentObject, apSecretName))
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/client/client_cache.go b/pkg/deployment/client/client_cache.go
index c375a32ff..32b1d1ced 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/client/client_cache.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/client/client_cache.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (cc *cache) extendHost(host string) string {
 func (cc *cache) getClient(group api.ServerGroup, id string) (driver.Client, error) {
 	cc.mutex.Lock()
 	defer cc.mutex.Unlock()
-	m, _, _ := cc.in.GetStatusSnapshot().Members.ElementByID(id)
+	m, _, _ := cc.in.GetStatus().Members.ElementByID(id)
 
 	endpoint, err := cc.in.GenerateMemberEndpoint(group, m)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (cc *cache) GetAgency(_ context.Context, agencyIDs ...string) (agency.Agenc
 
 	// Not found, create a new client
 	var dnsNames []string
-	for _, m := range cc.in.GetStatusSnapshot().Members.Agents {
+	for _, m := range cc.in.GetStatus().Members.Agents {
 		if len(agencyIDs) > 0 {
 			if !utils.StringList(agencyIDs).Has(m.ID) {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/cluster_scaling_integration.go b/pkg/deployment/cluster_scaling_integration.go
index 3893818f3..5082e43c7 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/cluster_scaling_integration.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/cluster_scaling_integration.go
@@ -26,15 +26,13 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
-	meta "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 
 	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
+	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/patch"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/logging"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/arangod"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/errors"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/globals"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/k8sutil"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/timer"
 )
 
@@ -91,10 +89,14 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) checkScalingCluster(ctx context.Context, ex
 	defer ci.scaleEnabled.mutex.Unlock()
 
 	if !ci.depl.config.ScalingIntegrationEnabled {
-		return false
+		if err := ci.cleanClusterServers(ctx); err != nil {
+			ci.log.Err(err).Debug("Clean failed")
+			return false
+		}
+		return true
 	}
 
-	status, _ := ci.depl.GetStatus()
+	status := ci.depl.GetStatus()
 
 	if !ci.scaleEnabled.enabled {
 		// Check if it is possible to turn on scaling without any issue
@@ -110,6 +112,10 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) checkScalingCluster(ctx context.Context, ex
 		return false
 	}
 
+	if !status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate) {
+		return false
+	}
+
 	// Update cluster with our state
 	safeToAskCluster, err := ci.updateClusterServerCount(ctx, expectSuccess)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -153,6 +159,32 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) ListenForClusterEvents(stopCh <-chan struct
 	}
 }
 
+func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) cleanClusterServers(ctx context.Context) error {
+	log := ci.log
+
+	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().ArangoD().WithTimeout(ctx)
+	defer cancel()
+	c, err := ci.depl.clientCache.GetDatabase(ctxChild)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+
+	req, err := arangod.GetNumberOfServers(ctxChild, c.Connection())
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Err(err).Debug("Failed to get number of servers")
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+
+	if req.Coordinators != nil || req.DBServers != nil {
+		if err := arangod.CleanNumberOfServers(ctx, c.Connection()); err != nil {
+			log.Err(err).Debug("Failed to clean number of servers")
+			return errors.WithStack(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Perform a single inspection of the cluster
 func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) inspectCluster(ctx context.Context, expectSuccess bool) error {
 	log := ci.log
@@ -208,35 +240,18 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) inspectCluster(ctx context.Context, expectS
 		return nil
 	}
 	// Let's update the spec
-	apiObject := ci.depl.apiObject
-	ctxChild, cancel = globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().WithTimeout(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-	current, err := ci.depl.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(apiObject.Namespace).Get(ctxChild, apiObject.Name, meta.GetOptions{})
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.WithStack(err)
-	}
-	newSpec := current.Spec.DeepCopy()
+	p := make([]patch.Item, 0, 2)
 	if coordinatorsChanged {
-		newSpec.Coordinators.Count = util.NewInt(req.GetCoordinators())
-	}
-	if dbserversChanged {
-		newSpec.DBServers.Count = util.NewInt(req.GetDBServers())
-	}
-	// Validate will additionally check if
-	// 		min <= count <= max holds for the given server groups
-	if err := newSpec.Validate(); err != nil {
-		// Log failure & create event
-		log.Err(err).Warn("Validation of updated spec has failed")
-		ci.depl.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Validation failed", err, apiObject))
-		// Restore original spec in cluster
-		ci.SendUpdateToCluster(current.Spec)
-	} else {
-		if err := ci.depl.updateCRSpec(ctx, *newSpec); err != nil {
-			log.Err(err).Warn("Failed to update current deployment")
-			return errors.WithStack(err)
+		if min, max, expected := ci.depl.GetSpec().Coordinators.GetMinCount(), ci.depl.GetSpec().Coordinators.GetMaxCount(), req.GetCoordinators(); min <= expected && expected <= max {
+			p = append(p, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("spec", "coordinators", "count"), expected))
 		}
 	}
-	return nil
+	if dbserversChanged {
+		if min, max, expected := ci.depl.GetSpec().DBServers.GetMinCount(), ci.depl.GetSpec().DBServers.GetMaxCount(), req.GetDBServers(); min <= expected && expected <= max {
+			p = append(p, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("spec", "dbservers", "count"), expected))
+		}
+	}
+	return ci.depl.ApplyPatch(ctx, p...)
 }
 
 // updateClusterServerCount updates the intended number of servers of the cluster.
@@ -274,6 +289,7 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) updateClusterServerCount(ctx context.Contex
 	// This is to prevent unneseccary updates that may override some values written by the WebUI (in the case of a update loop)
 	if coordinatorCount != lastNumberOfServers.GetCoordinators() || dbserverCount != lastNumberOfServers.GetDBServers() {
 		if err := ci.depl.SetNumberOfServers(ctx, coordinatorCountPtr, dbserverCountPtr); err != nil {
+			log.Debug("Setting number of servers %d/%d", coordinatorCount, dbserverCount)
 			if expectSuccess {
 				log.Err(err).Debug("Failed to set number of servers")
 			}
@@ -342,6 +358,6 @@ func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) setNumberOfServers(ctx context.Context) err
 }
 
 func (ci *clusterScalingIntegration) getNumbersOfServers() (int, int) {
-	status, _ := ci.depl.getStatus()
+	status := ci.depl.GetStatus()
 	return len(status.Members.Coordinators), len(status.Members.DBServers)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/context_impl.go b/pkg/deployment/context_impl.go
index f9c958f78..ba0db75c9 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/context_impl.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/context_impl.go
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetBackup(ctx context.Context, backup string) (*backupApi.A
 
 // GetAPIObject returns the deployment as k8s object.
 func (d *Deployment) GetAPIObject() k8sutil.APIObject {
-	return d.apiObject
+	return d.currentObject
 }
 
 // GetServerGroupIterator returns the deployment as ServerGroupIterator.
 func (d *Deployment) GetServerGroupIterator() reconciler.ServerGroupIterator {
-	return d.apiObject
+	return d.currentObject
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) GetScope() scope.Scope {
@@ -104,59 +104,45 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetNamespace() string {
 
 // GetPhase returns the current phase of the deployment
 func (d *Deployment) GetPhase() api.DeploymentPhase {
-	return d.status.last.Phase
+	return d.currentObject.Status.Phase
 }
 
 // GetSpec returns the current specification
 func (d *Deployment) GetSpec() api.DeploymentSpec {
-	return d.apiObject.Spec
+	d.currentObjectLock.RLock()
+	defer d.currentObjectLock.RUnlock()
+
+	if s := d.currentObject.Status.AcceptedSpec; s == nil {
+		return d.currentObject.Spec
+	} else {
+		return *s
+	}
 }
 
 // GetStatus returns the current status of the deployment
 // together with the current version of that status.
-func (d *Deployment) GetStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32) {
-	return d.getStatus()
-}
+func (d *Deployment) GetStatus() api.DeploymentStatus {
+	d.currentObjectLock.RLock()
+	defer d.currentObjectLock.RUnlock()
 
-func (d *Deployment) getStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32) {
-	obj := d.status.deploymentStatusObject
-	return *obj.last.DeepCopy(), obj.version
+	if s := d.currentObjectStatus; s == nil {
+		return api.DeploymentStatus{}
+	} else {
+		return *s.DeepCopy()
+	}
 }
 
 // UpdateStatus replaces the status of the deployment with the given status and
 // updates the resources in k8s.
 // If the given last version does not match the actual last version of the status object,
 // an error is returned.
-func (d *Deployment) UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error {
-	d.status.mutex.Lock()
-	defer d.status.mutex.Unlock()
-
-	return d.updateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion, force...)
-}
-
-func (d *Deployment) updateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error {
-	if d.status.version != lastVersion {
-		// Status is obsolete
-		d.log.
-			Int32("expected-version", lastVersion).
-			Int32("actual-version", d.status.version).
-			Error("UpdateStatus version conflict error.")
-		return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("Status conflict error. Expected version %d, got %d", lastVersion, d.status.version))
-	}
-
-	d.status.deploymentStatusObject = deploymentStatusObject{
-		version: d.status.deploymentStatusObject.version + 1,
-		last:    *status.DeepCopy(),
-	}
-	if err := d.updateCRStatus(ctx, force...); err != nil {
-		return errors.WithStack(err)
-	}
-	return nil
+func (d *Deployment) UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus) error {
+	return d.updateCRStatus(ctx, status)
 }
 
 // UpdateMember updates the deployment status wrt the given member.
 func (d *Deployment) UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStatus) error {
-	status, lastVersion := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	_, group, found := status.Members.ElementByID(member.ID)
 	if !found {
 		return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("Member %s not found", member.ID))
@@ -164,7 +150,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStatus)
 	if err := status.Members.Update(member, group); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := d.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+	if err := d.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 		d.log.Err(err).Debug("Updating CR status failed")
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
@@ -233,7 +219,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getConnConfig() (http.ConnectionConfig, error) {
 		ExpectContinueTimeout: 1 * time.Second,
 	}
 
-	if d.apiObject.Spec.TLS.IsSecure() {
+	if d.GetSpec().TLS.IsSecure() {
 		transport.TLSClientConfig = &tls.Config{
 			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
 		}
@@ -248,7 +234,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getConnConfig() (http.ConnectionConfig, error) {
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) getAuth() (driver.Authentication, error) {
-	if !d.apiObject.Spec.Authentication.IsAuthenticated() {
+	if !d.GetSpec().Authentication.IsAuthenticated() {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
@@ -260,7 +246,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getAuth() (driver.Authentication, error) {
 	var found bool
 
 	// Check if we can find token in folder
-	if i := d.apiObject.Status.CurrentImage; i == nil || features.JWTRotation().Supported(i.ArangoDBVersion, i.Enterprise) {
+	if i := d.currentObject.Status.CurrentImage; i == nil || features.JWTRotation().Supported(i.ArangoDBVersion, i.Enterprise) {
 		secret, found = d.getJWTFolderToken()
 	}
 
@@ -282,7 +268,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getAuth() (driver.Authentication, error) {
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) getJWTFolderToken() (string, bool) {
-	if i := d.apiObject.Status.CurrentImage; i == nil || features.JWTRotation().Supported(i.ArangoDBVersion, i.Enterprise) {
+	if i := d.currentObject.Status.CurrentImage; i == nil || features.JWTRotation().Supported(i.ArangoDBVersion, i.Enterprise) {
 		s, err := d.GetCachedStatus().Secret().V1().Read().Get(context.Background(), pod.JWTSecretFolder(d.GetName()), meta.GetOptions{})
 		if err != nil {
 			d.log.Err(err).Error("Unable to get secret")
@@ -306,7 +292,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getJWTFolderToken() (string, bool) {
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) getJWTToken() (string, bool) {
-	s, err := d.GetCachedStatus().Secret().V1().Read().Get(context.Background(), d.apiObject.Spec.Authentication.GetJWTSecretName(), meta.GetOptions{})
+	s, err := d.GetCachedStatus().Secret().V1().Read().Get(context.Background(), d.GetSpec().Authentication.GetJWTSecretName(), meta.GetOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", false
 	}
@@ -322,7 +308,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) getJWTToken() (string, bool) {
 // GetSyncServerClient returns a cached client for a specific arangosync server.
 func (d *Deployment) GetSyncServerClient(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGroup, id string) (client.API, error) {
 	// Fetch monitoring token
-	secretName := d.apiObject.Spec.Sync.Monitoring.GetTokenSecretName()
+	secretName := d.GetSpec().Sync.Monitoring.GetTokenSecretName()
 	monitoringToken, err := k8sutil.GetTokenSecret(ctx, d.GetCachedStatus().Secret().V1().Read(), secretName)
 	if err != nil {
 		d.log.Err(err).Str("secret-name", secretName).Debug("Failed to get sync monitoring secret")
@@ -330,7 +316,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetSyncServerClient(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGr
 	}
 
 	// Fetch server DNS name
-	dnsName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSNameWithDomain(d.apiObject, d.apiObject.Spec.ClusterDomain, group.AsRole(), id)
+	dnsName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSNameWithDomain(d.currentObject, d.GetSpec().ClusterDomain, group.AsRole(), id)
 
 	// Build client
 	port := shared.ArangoSyncMasterPort
@@ -357,7 +343,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetSyncServerClient(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGr
 // If ID is non-empty, it will be used, otherwise a new ID is created.
 func (d *Deployment) CreateMember(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGroup, id string, mods ...reconcile.CreateMemberMod) (string, error) {
 	if err := d.WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx, func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) (bool, error) {
-		nid, err := d.createMember(d.GetSpec(), s, group, id, d.apiObject, mods...)
+		nid, err := d.createMember(d.GetSpec(), s, group, id, d.currentObject, mods...)
 		if err != nil {
 			d.log.Err(err).Str("group", group.AsRole()).Debug("Failed to create member")
 			return false, errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -371,7 +357,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) CreateMember(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGroup, id
 	}
 
 	// Create event about it
-	d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewMemberAddEvent(id, group.AsRole(), d.apiObject))
+	d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewMemberAddEvent(id, group.AsRole(), d.currentObject))
 
 	return id, nil
 }
@@ -565,11 +551,8 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetArangoImage() string {
 	return d.config.ArangoImage
 }
 
-func (d *Deployment) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc, force ...bool) error {
-	d.status.mutex.Lock()
-	defer d.status.mutex.Unlock()
-
-	status, version := d.getStatus()
+func (d *Deployment) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc) error {
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 
 	changed, err := action(&status)
 
@@ -581,13 +564,13 @@ func (d *Deployment) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	return d.updateStatus(ctx, status, version, force...)
+	return d.updateCRStatus(ctx, status)
 }
 
-func (d *Deployment) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc, force ...bool) error {
+func (d *Deployment) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc) error {
 	return d.WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx, func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) (bool, error) {
 		return action(s), nil
-	}, force...)
+	})
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) SecretsModInterface() secretv1.ModInterface {
@@ -673,14 +656,6 @@ func (d *Deployment) GenerateMemberEndpoint(group api.ServerGroup, member api.Me
 	return pod.GenerateMemberEndpoint(cache, d.GetAPIObject(), d.GetSpec(), group, member)
 }
 
-func (d *Deployment) GetStatusSnapshot() api.DeploymentStatus {
-	s, _ := d.GetStatus()
-
-	z := s.DeepCopy()
-
-	return *z
-}
-
 func (d *Deployment) ACS() sutil.ACS {
 	return d.acs
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment.go
index 4cd47d992..77d6ea9aa 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package deployment
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/agency"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/chaos"
 	deploymentClient "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/client"
+	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/features"
 	memberState "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/member"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/patch"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/reconcile"
@@ -96,11 +98,6 @@ const (
 	maxInspectionInterval    = 10 * util.Interval(time.Second)       // Ensure we inspect the generated resources no less than with this interval
 )
 
-type deploymentStatusObject struct {
-	version int32
-	last    api.DeploymentStatus // Internal status copy of the CR
-}
-
 // Deployment is the in process state of an ArangoDeployment.
 type Deployment struct {
 	log logging.Logger
@@ -108,11 +105,10 @@ type Deployment struct {
 	name      string
 	namespace string
 
-	apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment // API object
-	status    struct {
-		mutex sync.Mutex
-		deploymentStatusObject
-	}
+	currentObject       *api.ArangoDeployment
+	currentObjectStatus *api.DeploymentStatus
+	currentObjectLock   sync.RWMutex
+
 	config Config
 	deps   Dependencies
 
@@ -161,11 +157,11 @@ func (d *Deployment) GetAgencyHealth() (agency.Health, bool) {
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) RefreshAgencyCache(ctx context.Context) (uint64, error) {
-	if d.apiObject.Spec.Mode.Get() == api.DeploymentModeSingle {
+	if d.GetSpec().Mode.Get() == api.DeploymentModeSingle {
 		return 0, nil
 	}
 
-	if info := d.apiObject.Status.Agency; info != nil {
+	if info := d.currentObject.Status.Agency; info != nil {
 		if size := info.Size; size != nil {
 			lCtx, c := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Agency().WithTimeout(ctx)
 			defer c()
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) RefreshAgencyCache(ctx context.Context) (uint64, error) {
 			rsize := int(*size)
 
 			clients := make(map[string]agencydriver.Agency)
-			for _, m := range d.GetStatusSnapshot().Members.Agents {
+			for _, m := range d.GetStatus().Members.Agents {
 				a, err := d.GetAgency(lCtx, m.ID)
 				if err != nil {
 					return 0, err
@@ -235,15 +231,16 @@ func New(config Config, deps Dependencies, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment) (*De
 	i := inspector.NewInspector(inspector.NewDefaultThrottle(), deps.Client, apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName())
 
 	d := &Deployment{
-		apiObject:   apiObject,
-		name:        apiObject.GetName(),
-		namespace:   apiObject.GetNamespace(),
-		config:      config,
-		deps:        deps,
-		eventCh:     make(chan *deploymentEvent, deploymentEventQueueSize),
-		stopCh:      make(chan struct{}),
-		agencyCache: agency.NewCache(apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName(), apiObject.Spec.Mode),
-		acs:         acs.NewACS(apiObject.GetUID(), i),
+		currentObject:       apiObject,
+		currentObjectStatus: apiObject.Status.DeepCopy(),
+		name:                apiObject.GetName(),
+		namespace:           apiObject.GetNamespace(),
+		config:              config,
+		deps:                deps,
+		eventCh:             make(chan *deploymentEvent, deploymentEventQueueSize),
+		stopCh:              make(chan struct{}),
+		agencyCache:         agency.NewCache(apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName(), apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().Mode),
+		acs:                 acs.NewACS(apiObject.GetUID(), i),
 	}
 
 	d.log = logger.WrapObj(d)
@@ -252,14 +249,9 @@ func New(config Config, deps Dependencies, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment) (*De
 
 	d.clientCache = deploymentClient.NewClientCache(d, conn.NewFactory(d.getAuth, d.getConnConfig))
 
-	d.status.last = *(apiObject.Status.DeepCopy())
 	d.reconciler = reconcile.NewReconciler(apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName(), d)
 	d.resilience = resilience.NewResilience(apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName(), d)
 	d.resources = resources.NewResources(apiObject.GetNamespace(), apiObject.GetName(), d)
-	if d.status.last.AcceptedSpec == nil {
-		// We've validated the spec, so let's use it from now.
-		d.status.last.AcceptedSpec = apiObject.Spec.DeepCopy()
-	}
 
 	localInventory.Add(d)
 
@@ -277,7 +269,7 @@ func New(config Config, deps Dependencies, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment) (*De
 	go d.listenForSecretEvents(d.stopCh)
 	go d.listenForServiceEvents(d.stopCh)
 	go d.listenForCRDEvents(d.stopCh)
-	if apiObject.Spec.GetMode() == api.DeploymentModeCluster {
+	if apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().GetMode() == api.DeploymentModeCluster {
 		ci := newClusterScalingIntegration(d)
 		d.clusterScalingIntegration = ci
 		go ci.ListenForClusterEvents(d.stopCh)
@@ -347,9 +339,9 @@ func (d *Deployment) run() {
 			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Failed to create initial topology", err, d.GetAPIObject()))
 		}
 
-		status, lastVersion := d.GetStatus()
+		status := d.GetStatus()
 		status.Phase = api.DeploymentPhaseRunning
-		if err := d.UpdateStatus(context.TODO(), status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+		if err := d.UpdateStatus(context.TODO(), status); err != nil {
 			log.Err(err).Warn("update initial CR status failed")
 		}
 		log.Info("start running...")
@@ -362,6 +354,15 @@ func (d *Deployment) run() {
 	inspectionInterval := d.inspectDeployment(minInspectionInterval)
 	log.Str("interval", inspectionInterval.String()).Debug("...deployment inspect started")
 
+	if ci := d.clusterScalingIntegration; ci != nil {
+		if c := d.currentObjectStatus; c != nil {
+			if a := c.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+				log.Debug("Send initial CI update")
+				ci.SendUpdateToCluster(*a)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-d.stopCh:
@@ -386,10 +387,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) run() {
 			d.lookForServiceMonitorCRD()
 		case <-d.updateDeploymentTrigger.Done():
 			inspectionInterval = minInspectionInterval
-			if err := d.handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent(context.TODO()); err != nil {
-				d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Failed to handle deployment update", err, d.GetAPIObject()))
-			}
-
+			d.handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent()
 		case <-inspectionInterval.After():
 			// Trigger inspection
 			d.inspectTrigger.Trigger()
@@ -399,80 +397,102 @@ func (d *Deployment) run() {
 	}
 }
 
-// handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent is called when the deployment is updated by the user.
-func (d *Deployment) handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent(ctx context.Context) error {
-	log := d.log.Str("deployment", d.apiObject.GetName())
+// validateNewSpec returns (canProceed, changed, error)
+func (d *Deployment) acceptNewSpec(ctx context.Context, depl *api.ArangoDeployment) (bool, bool, error) {
+	spec := depl.Spec.DeepCopy()
 
-	// Get the most recent version of the deployment from the API server
-	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().WithTimeout(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	current, err := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(d.apiObject.GetNamespace()).Get(ctxChild, d.apiObject.GetName(), meta.GetOptions{})
+	origChecksum, err := spec.Checksum()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Err(err).Debug("Failed to get current version of deployment from API server")
-		if k8sutil.IsNotFound(err) {
-			return nil
-		}
-		return errors.WithStack(err)
+		return false, false, err
 	}
 
-	specBefore := d.apiObject.Spec
-	status := d.status.last
-	if d.status.last.AcceptedSpec != nil {
-		specBefore = *status.AcceptedSpec.DeepCopy()
-	}
-	newAPIObject := current.DeepCopy()
-	newAPIObject.Spec.SetDefaultsFrom(specBefore)
-	newAPIObject.Spec.SetDefaults(d.apiObject.GetName())
+	// Set defaults to the spec
+	spec.SetDefaults(d.name)
 
-	resetFields := specBefore.ResetImmutableFields(&newAPIObject.Spec)
-	if len(resetFields) > 0 {
-		log.Strs("fields", resetFields...).Debug("Found modified immutable fields")
-		newAPIObject.Spec.SetDefaults(d.apiObject.GetName())
-	}
-	if err := newAPIObject.Spec.Validate(); err != nil {
-		d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Validation failed", err, d.apiObject))
-		// Try to reset object
-		if err := d.updateCRSpec(ctx, d.apiObject.Spec); err != nil {
-			log.Err(err).Error("Restore original spec failed")
-			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Restore original failed", err, d.apiObject))
-		}
-		return nil
-	}
-	if len(resetFields) > 0 {
-		for _, fieldName := range resetFields {
-			log.Str("field", fieldName).Debug("Reset immutable field")
-			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewImmutableFieldEvent(fieldName, d.apiObject))
+	if features.DeploymentSpecDefaultsRestore().Enabled() {
+		if accepted := depl.Status.AcceptedSpec; accepted != nil {
+			spec.SetDefaultsFrom(*accepted)
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Save updated spec
-	if err := d.updateCRSpec(ctx, newAPIObject.Spec); err != nil {
-		return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("failed to update ArangoDeployment spec: %v", err))
+	checksum, err := spec.Checksum()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, false, err
 	}
-	// Save updated accepted spec
-	{
-		status, lastVersion := d.GetStatus()
-		if newAPIObject.Status.IsForceReload() {
-			log.Warn("Forced status reload!")
-			status = newAPIObject.Status
-			status.ForceStatusReload = nil
-		}
-		status.AcceptedSpec = newAPIObject.Spec.DeepCopy()
-		if err := d.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
-			return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("failed to update ArangoDeployment status: %v", err))
+
+	if features.DeploymentSpecDefaultsRestore().Enabled() {
+		if origChecksum != checksum {
+			// Set defaults in deployment
+			if err := d.updateCRSpec(ctx, *spec); err != nil {
+				return false, false, err
+			}
+
+			return false, true, nil
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Notify cluster of desired server count
-	if ci := d.clusterScalingIntegration; ci != nil {
-		ci.SendUpdateToCluster(d.apiObject.Spec)
-	}
+	if accepted := depl.Status.AcceptedSpec; accepted == nil {
+		// There is no last status, it is fresh one
+		if err := spec.Validate(); err != nil {
+			d.metrics.Errors.DeploymentValidationErrors++
+			return false, false, err
+		}
 
+		// Update accepted spec
+		if err := d.patchAcceptedSpec(ctx, spec, origChecksum); err != nil {
+			return false, false, err
+		}
+
+		// Reconcile with new accepted spec
+		return false, true, nil
+	} else {
+		// If we are equal then proceed
+		acceptedChecksum, err := accepted.Checksum()
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, false, err
+		}
+
+		if acceptedChecksum == checksum {
+			return true, false, nil
+		}
+
+		// We have already accepted spec, verify immutable part
+		if fields := accepted.ResetImmutableFields(spec); len(fields) > 0 {
+			d.metrics.Errors.DeploymentImmutableErrors += uint64(len(fields))
+			if features.DeploymentSpecDefaultsRestore().Enabled() {
+				d.log.Error("Restoring immutable fields: %s", strings.Join(fields, ", "))
+
+				// In case of enabled, do restore
+				if err := d.updateCRSpec(ctx, *spec); err != nil {
+					return false, false, err
+				}
+
+				return false, true, nil
+			}
+
+			// We have immutable fields, throw an error and proceed
+			return true, false, errors.Newf("Immutable fields cannot be changed: %s", strings.Join(fields, ", "))
+		}
+
+		// Update accepted spec
+		if err := d.patchAcceptedSpec(ctx, spec, origChecksum); err != nil {
+			return false, false, err
+		}
+
+		// Reconcile with new accepted spec
+		return false, true, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (d *Deployment) patchAcceptedSpec(ctx context.Context, spec *api.DeploymentSpec, checksum string) error {
+	return d.ApplyPatch(ctx, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("status", "accepted-spec"), spec),
+		patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("status", "acceptedSpecVersion"), checksum))
+}
+
+// handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent is called when the deployment is updated by the user.
+func (d *Deployment) handleArangoDeploymentUpdatedEvent() {
 	// Trigger inspect
 	d.inspectTrigger.Trigger()
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 // CreateEvent creates a given event.
@@ -481,108 +501,12 @@ func (d *Deployment) CreateEvent(evt *k8sutil.Event) {
 	d.deps.EventRecorder.Event(evt.InvolvedObject, evt.Type, evt.Reason, evt.Message)
 }
 
-// Update the status of the API object from the internal status
-func (d *Deployment) updateCRStatus(ctx context.Context, force ...bool) error {
-	if len(force) == 0 || !force[0] {
-		if d.apiObject.Status.Equal(d.status.last) {
-			// Nothing has changed
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Send update to API server
-	depls := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(d.GetNamespace())
-	attempt := 0
-	for {
-		attempt++
-		q := patch.NewPatch(patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("status"), d.status.last))
-
-		if d.apiObject.GetDeletionTimestamp() == nil {
-			if ensureFinalizers(d.apiObject) {
-				q.ItemAdd(patch.NewPath("metadata", "finalizers"), d.apiObject.Finalizers)
-			}
-		}
-
-		var newAPIObject *api.ArangoDeployment
-		err := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().RunWithTimeout(ctx, func(ctxChild context.Context) error {
-			p, err := q.Marshal()
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			newAPIObject, err = depls.Patch(ctxChild, d.GetName(), types.JSONPatchType, p, meta.PatchOptions{})
-
-			return err
-		})
-		if err == nil {
-			// Update internal object
-			d.apiObject = newAPIObject
-			return nil
-		}
-		if attempt < 10 {
-			continue
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			d.log.Err(err).Debug("failed to patch ArangoDeployment status")
-			return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("failed to patch ArangoDeployment status: %v", err))
-		}
-	}
+func (d *Deployment) updateCRStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus) error {
+	return d.ApplyPatch(ctx, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("status"), status))
 }
 
-// Update the spec part of the API object (d.apiObject)
-// to the given object, while preserving the status.
-// On success, d.apiObject is updated.
-func (d *Deployment) updateCRSpec(ctx context.Context, newSpec api.DeploymentSpec, force ...bool) error {
-
-	if len(force) == 0 || !force[0] {
-		if d.apiObject.Spec.Equal(&newSpec) {
-			d.log.Trace("Nothing to update in updateCRSpec")
-			// Nothing to update
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Send update to API server
-	update := d.apiObject.DeepCopy()
-	attempt := 0
-	for {
-		attempt++
-		update.Spec = newSpec
-		update.Status = d.status.last
-		ns := d.apiObject.GetNamespace()
-		var newAPIObject *api.ArangoDeployment
-		err := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().RunWithTimeout(ctx, func(ctxChild context.Context) error {
-			var err error
-			newAPIObject, err = d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(ns).Update(ctxChild, update, meta.UpdateOptions{})
-
-			return err
-		})
-		if err == nil {
-			// Update internal object
-			d.apiObject = newAPIObject
-			return nil
-		}
-		if attempt < 10 && k8sutil.IsConflict(err) {
-			// API object may have been changed already,
-			// Reload api object and try again
-			var current *api.ArangoDeployment
-
-			err = globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().RunWithTimeout(ctx, func(ctxChild context.Context) error {
-				var err error
-				current, err = d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(ns).Get(ctxChild, update.GetName(), meta.GetOptions{})
-
-				return err
-			})
-			if err == nil {
-				update = current.DeepCopy()
-				continue
-			}
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			d.log.Err(err).Debug("failed to patch ArangoDeployment spec")
-			return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("failed to patch ArangoDeployment spec: %v", err))
-		}
-	}
+func (d *Deployment) updateCRSpec(ctx context.Context, spec api.DeploymentSpec) error {
+	return d.ApplyPatch(ctx, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("spec"), spec))
 }
 
 // isOwnerOf returns true if the given object belong to this deployment.
@@ -591,7 +515,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) isOwnerOf(obj meta.Object) bool {
 	if len(ownerRefs) < 1 {
 		return false
 	}
-	return ownerRefs[0].UID == d.apiObject.UID
+	return ownerRefs[0].UID == d.currentObject.UID
 }
 
 // lookForServiceMonitorCRD checks if there is a CRD for the ServiceMonitor
@@ -647,23 +571,52 @@ func (d *Deployment) SetNumberOfServers(ctx context.Context, noCoordinators, noD
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) ApplyPatch(ctx context.Context, p ...patch.Item) error {
-	parser := patch.Patch(p)
-
-	data, err := parser.Marshal()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if len(p) == 0 {
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	c := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(d.apiObject.GetNamespace())
+	d.currentObjectLock.Lock()
+	defer d.currentObjectLock.Unlock()
 
-	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().WithTimeout(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-	depl, err := c.Patch(ctxChild, d.apiObject.GetName(), types.JSONPatchType, data, meta.PatchOptions{})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	d.apiObject = depl
-
-	return nil
+	return d.applyPatch(ctx, p...)
+}
+
+func (d *Deployment) applyPatch(ctx context.Context, p ...patch.Item) error {
+	depls := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(d.GetNamespace())
+
+	if len(p) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	pd, err := patch.NewPatch(p...).Marshal()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	attempt := 0
+	for {
+		attempt++
+
+		var newAPIObject *api.ArangoDeployment
+		err := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().RunWithTimeout(ctx, func(ctxChild context.Context) error {
+			newAPIObject, err = depls.Patch(ctxChild, d.GetName(), types.JSONPatchType, pd, meta.PatchOptions{})
+
+			return err
+		})
+		if err == nil {
+			// Update internal object
+
+			d.currentObject = newAPIObject.DeepCopy()
+			d.currentObjectStatus = newAPIObject.Status.DeepCopy()
+
+			return nil
+		}
+		if attempt < 10 {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			d.log.Err(err).Debug("failed to patch ArangoDeployment")
+			return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("failed to patch ArangoDeployment: %v", err))
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_affinity_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_affinity_test.go
index 018e32a30..1fe679256 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_affinity_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_affinity_test.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_AntiAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Affinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_NodeAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_NodeAffinity(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_core_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_core_test.go
index 3a9e7717d..2f6d95c2e 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_core_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_core_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				OperatorImage: testImageOperator,
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
 
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].PersistentVolumeClaimName = testPersistentVolumeClaimName
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].PersistentVolumeClaimName = testPersistentVolumeClaimName
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
 			ExpectedEvent: "member dbserver is created",
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				OperatorImage: testImageOperator,
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				agentWithPersistentVolumeClaim := firstAgentStatus
 				agentWithPersistentVolumeClaim.PersistentVolumeClaimName = testPersistentVolumeClaimName
 
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							agentWithPersistentVolumeClaim,
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -1105,7 +1105,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -1239,7 +1239,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Core(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Single: api.MemberStatusList{
 							singleStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_encryption_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_encryption_test.go
index 3913f0172..774b5e85c 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_encryption_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_encryption_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Encryption(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Encryption(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Encryption(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Encryption(t *testing.T) {
 				EncryptionRotation: true,
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_features_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_features_test.go
index 771ce125a..98c60c5e6 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_features_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_features_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
-				deployment.apiObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
+				deployment.currentObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
 					FoxxQueues: util.NewBool(false),
 				}
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupCoordinators, firstCoordinatorStatus)
 			},
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -232,9 +232,9 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
 
-				deployment.apiObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
+				deployment.currentObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
 					FoxxQueues: util.NewBool(false),
 				}
 
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -295,9 +295,9 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Coordinators[0].IsInitialized = true
 
-				deployment.apiObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
+				deployment.currentObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
 					FoxxQueues: util.NewBool(true),
 				}
 
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Single: api.MemberStatusList{
 							singleStatus,
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupSingle, singleStatus)
 
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Single: api.MemberStatusList{
 							singleStatus,
@@ -419,9 +419,9 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
 
-				deployment.apiObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
+				deployment.currentObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
 					FoxxQueues: util.NewBool(false),
 				}
 
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Single: api.MemberStatusList{
 							singleStatus,
@@ -484,9 +484,9 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Features(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.Single[0].IsInitialized = true
 
-				deployment.apiObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
+				deployment.currentObject.Spec.Features = &api.DeploymentFeatures{
 					FoxxQueues: util.NewBool(true),
 				}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_finalizers.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_finalizers.go
index b8bd8e6be..45192a410 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_finalizers.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_finalizers.go
@@ -34,18 +34,34 @@ import (
 	inspectorInterface "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/k8sutil/inspector"
 )
 
+var expectedFinalizers = []string{
+	constants.FinalizerDeplRemoveChildFinalizers,
+}
+
 // ensureFinalizers adds all required finalizers to the given deployment (in memory).
 func ensureFinalizers(depl *api.ArangoDeployment) bool {
+	fx := make(map[string]bool, len(expectedFinalizers))
+
+	st := len(depl.Finalizers)
+
+	for _, fn := range expectedFinalizers {
+		fx[fn] = false
+	}
+
 	for _, f := range depl.GetFinalizers() {
-		if f == constants.FinalizerDeplRemoveChildFinalizers {
-			// Finalizer already set
-			return false
+		if _, ok := fx[f]; ok {
+			fx[f] = true
 		}
 	}
-	// Set finalizers
-	depl.SetFinalizers(append(depl.GetFinalizers(), constants.FinalizerDeplRemoveChildFinalizers))
 
-	return true
+	for _, fn := range expectedFinalizers {
+		if !fx[fn] {
+			depl.Finalizers = append(depl.Finalizers, fn)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Set finalizers
+	return st != len(depl.Finalizers)
 }
 
 // runDeploymentFinalizers goes through the list of ArangoDeployoment finalizers to see if they can be removed.
@@ -55,7 +71,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) runDeploymentFinalizers(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus i
 	depls := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(d.GetNamespace())
 	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().WithTimeout(ctx)
 	defer cancel()
-	updated, err := depls.Get(ctxChild, d.apiObject.GetName(), meta.GetOptions{})
+	updated, err := depls.Get(ctxChild, d.currentObject.GetName(), meta.GetOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_image_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_image_test.go
index f1656a669..6c9f0ec7f 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_image_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_image_test.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_ImagePropagation(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_ImagePropagation(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_ImagePropagation(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_inspector.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_inspector.go
index e52c4fa01..7e02f8139 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_inspector.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_inspector.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeployment(lastInterval util.Interval) util.Interval
 		// Deployment is marked for deletion
 		if err := d.runDeploymentFinalizers(ctxReconciliation, d.GetCachedStatus()); err != nil {
 			hasError = true
-			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("ArangoDeployment finalizer inspection failed", err, d.apiObject))
+			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("ArangoDeployment finalizer inspection failed", err, d.currentObject))
 		}
 	} else {
 		// Check if maintenance annotation is set
@@ -91,14 +91,56 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeployment(lastInterval util.Interval) util.Interval
 				return nextInterval
 			}
 		}
+
+		if ensureFinalizers(updated) {
+			if err := d.ApplyPatch(ctxReconciliation, patch.ItemReplace(patch.NewPath("metadata", "finalizers"), updated.Finalizers)); err != nil {
+				d.log.Err(err).Debug("Unable to set finalizers")
+			}
+		}
+
+		if canProceed, changed, err := d.acceptNewSpec(ctxReconciliation, updated); err != nil {
+			d.log.Err(err).Debug("Verification of deployment failed")
+
+			if !canProceed {
+				return minInspectionInterval // Retry ASAP
+			}
+		} else if changed {
+			d.log.Info("Accepted new spec")
+			// Notify cluster of desired server count
+			if ci := d.clusterScalingIntegration; ci != nil {
+				if c := d.currentObjectStatus; c != nil {
+					if a := c.AcceptedSpec; a != nil {
+						if c.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate) {
+							ci.SendUpdateToCluster(*a)
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			return minInspectionInterval // Retry ASAP
+		} else if !canProceed {
+			d.log.Err(err).Error("Cannot proceed with reconciliation")
+			return minInspectionInterval // Retry ASAP
+		}
+
+		// Ensure that status is up to date
+		if !d.currentObjectStatus.Equal(updated.Status) {
+			if err := d.updateCRStatus(ctxReconciliation, *d.currentObjectStatus); err != nil {
+				d.log.Err(err).Error("Unable to refresh status")
+				return minInspectionInterval // Retry ASAP
+			}
+		}
+
+		d.currentObject = updated
+
+		d.metrics.Deployment.Accepted = updated.Status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted)
+		d.metrics.Deployment.UpToDate = updated.Status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate)
+
 		// Is the deployment in failed state, if so, give up.
 		if d.GetPhase() == api.DeploymentPhaseFailed {
 			d.log.Debug("Deployment is in Failed state.")
 			return nextInterval
 		}
 
-		d.apiObject = updated
-
 		d.GetMembersState().RefreshState(ctxReconciliation, updated.Status.Members.AsList())
 		d.GetMembersState().Log(d.log)
 		if err := d.WithStatusUpdateErr(ctxReconciliation, func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) (bool, error) {
@@ -108,7 +150,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeployment(lastInterval util.Interval) util.Interval
 				return changed, nil
 			}
 		}); err != nil {
-			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Upgrade failed", err, d.apiObject))
+			d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Upgrade failed", err, d.currentObject))
 			nextInterval = minInspectionInterval
 			d.recentInspectionErrors++
 			return nextInterval.ReduceTo(maxInspectionInterval)
@@ -120,7 +162,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeployment(lastInterval util.Interval) util.Interval
 				nextInterval = inspectNextInterval
 				hasError = true
 
-				d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Reconciliation failed", err, d.apiObject))
+				d.CreateEvent(k8sutil.NewErrorEvent("Reconciliation failed", err, d.currentObject))
 			} else {
 				nextInterval = minInspectionInterval
 			}
@@ -148,27 +190,47 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 	}()
 
 	// Ensure that spec and status checksum are same
-	spec := d.GetSpec()
-	status, _ := d.getStatus()
+	currentSpec := d.currentObject.Spec
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 
 	nextInterval = lastInterval
 	inspectError = nil
 
-	checksum, err := spec.Checksum()
+	currentChecksum, err := currentSpec.Checksum()
 	if err != nil {
 		return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Calculation of spec failed")
 	} else {
+		condition, exists := status.Conditions.Get(api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted)
+		if v := status.AcceptedSpecVersion; (v == nil || currentChecksum != *v) && (!exists || condition.IsTrue()) {
+			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted, false, "Spec Changed", "Spec Object changed. Waiting to be accepted", currentChecksum); err != nil {
+				return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update SpecAccepted condition")
+			}
+
+			return minInspectionInterval, nil // Retry ASAP
+		} else if v != nil {
+			if *v == currentChecksum && !condition.IsTrue() {
+				if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted, true, "Spec Accepted", "Spec Object accepted", currentChecksum); err != nil {
+					return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update SpecAccepted condition")
+				}
+
+				return minInspectionInterval, nil // Retry ASAP
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted) {
 		condition, exists := status.Conditions.Get(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate)
-		if checksum != status.AppliedVersion && (!exists || condition.IsTrue()) {
-			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, false, "Spec Changed", "Spec Object changed. Waiting until plan will be applied", checksum); err != nil {
+		if !exists || condition.IsTrue() {
+			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, false, "Spec Changed", "Spec Object changed. Waiting until plan will be applied", currentChecksum); err != nil {
 				return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update UpToDate condition")
+
 			}
 
 			return minInspectionInterval, nil // Retry ASAP
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := d.acs.Inspect(ctx, d.apiObject, d.deps.Client, d.GetCachedStatus()); err != nil {
+	if err := d.acs.Inspect(ctx, d.currentObject, d.deps.Client, d.GetCachedStatus()); err != nil {
 		d.log.Err(err).Warn("Unable to handle ACS objects")
 	}
 
@@ -211,7 +273,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 	}
 
 	// Ensure we have image info
-	if retrySoon, exists, err := d.ensureImages(ctx, d.apiObject, d.GetCachedStatus()); err != nil {
+	if retrySoon, exists, err := d.ensureImages(ctx, d.currentObject, d.GetCachedStatus()); err != nil {
 		return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Image detection failed")
 	} else if retrySoon || !exists {
 		return minInspectionInterval, nil
@@ -258,7 +320,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 	d.refreshMaintenanceTTL(ctx)
 
 	// Create scale/update plan
-	if _, ok := d.apiObject.Annotations[deployment.ArangoDeploymentPlanCleanAnnotation]; ok {
+	if _, ok := d.currentObject.Annotations[deployment.ArangoDeploymentPlanCleanAnnotation]; ok {
 		if err := d.ApplyPatch(ctx, patch.ItemRemove(patch.NewPath("metadata", "annotations", deployment.ArangoDeploymentPlanCleanAnnotation))); err != nil {
 			return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to create remove annotation patch")
 		}
@@ -266,7 +328,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 		if err := d.WithStatusUpdate(ctx, func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) bool {
 			s.Plan = nil
 			return true
-		}, true); err != nil {
+		}); err != nil {
 			return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable clean plan")
 		}
 	} else if err, updated := d.reconciler.CreatePlan(ctx); err != nil {
@@ -292,20 +354,20 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 		}
 	}
 
-	if d.apiObject.Status.IsPlanEmpty() && status.AppliedVersion != checksum {
+	if v := status.AcceptedSpecVersion; v != nil && d.currentObject.Status.IsPlanEmpty() && status.AppliedVersion != *v {
 		if err := d.WithStatusUpdate(ctx, func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) bool {
-			s.AppliedVersion = checksum
+			s.AppliedVersion = *v
 			return true
 		}); err != nil {
 			return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update UpToDate condition")
 		}
 
 		return minInspectionInterval, nil
-	} else if status.AppliedVersion == checksum {
+	} else {
 		isUpToDate, reason := d.isUpToDateStatus(status)
 
 		if !isUpToDate && status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate) {
-			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, false, reason, "There are pending operations in plan or members are in restart process", checksum); err != nil {
+			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, false, reason, "There are pending operations in plan or members are in restart process", *v); err != nil {
 				return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update UpToDate condition")
 			}
 
@@ -313,7 +375,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) inspectDeploymentWithError(ctx context.Context, lastInterva
 		}
 
 		if isUpToDate && !status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate) {
-			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, true, "Spec is Up To Date", "Spec is Up To Date", checksum); err != nil {
+			if err = d.updateConditionWithHash(ctx, api.ConditionTypeUpToDate, true, "Spec is Up To Date", "Spec is Up To Date", *v); err != nil {
 				return minInspectionInterval, errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to update UpToDate condition")
 			}
 
@@ -359,6 +421,18 @@ func (d *Deployment) isUpToDateStatus(status api.DeploymentStatus) (upToDate boo
 
 	upToDate = true
 
+	if v := status.AcceptedSpecVersion; v == nil || status.AppliedVersion != *v {
+		upToDate = false
+		reason = "Spec is not accepted"
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !status.Conditions.Check(api.ConditionTypeSpecAccepted).Exists().IsTrue().Evaluate() {
+		upToDate = false
+		reason = "Spec is not accepted"
+		return
+	}
+
 	if !status.Conditions.Check(api.ConditionTypeReachable).Exists().IsTrue().Evaluate() {
 		upToDate = false
 		return
@@ -382,7 +456,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) isUpToDateStatus(status api.DeploymentStatus) (upToDate boo
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) refreshMaintenanceTTL(ctx context.Context) {
-	if d.apiObject.Spec.Mode.Get() == api.DeploymentModeSingle {
+	if d.GetSpec().Mode.Get() == api.DeploymentModeSingle {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -396,7 +470,9 @@ func (d *Deployment) refreshMaintenanceTTL(ctx context.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	condition, ok := d.status.last.Conditions.Get(api.ConditionTypeMaintenance)
+	status := d.GetStatus()
+
+	condition, ok := status.Conditions.Get(api.ConditionTypeMaintenance)
 	maintenance := agencyState.Supervision.Maintenance
 
 	if !ok || !condition.IsTrue() {
@@ -405,14 +481,14 @@ func (d *Deployment) refreshMaintenanceTTL(ctx context.Context) {
 
 	// Check GracePeriod
 	if t, ok := maintenance.Time(); ok {
-		if time.Until(t) < time.Hour-d.apiObject.Spec.Timeouts.GetMaintenanceGracePeriod() {
+		if time.Until(t) < time.Hour-d.GetSpec().Timeouts.GetMaintenanceGracePeriod() {
 			if err := d.SetAgencyMaintenanceMode(ctx, true); err != nil {
 				return
 			}
 			d.log.Info("Refreshed maintenance lock")
 		}
 	} else {
-		if condition.LastUpdateTime.Add(d.apiObject.Spec.Timeouts.GetMaintenanceGracePeriod()).Before(time.Now()) {
+		if condition.LastUpdateTime.Add(d.GetSpec().Timeouts.GetMaintenanceGracePeriod()).Before(time.Now()) {
 			if err := d.SetAgencyMaintenanceMode(ctx, true); err != nil {
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_metrics_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_metrics_test.go
index d18896179..fa410ee11 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_metrics_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_metrics_test.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Metrics(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Metrics(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Metrics(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Metrics(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_probe_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_probe_test.go
index 71bbb91bb..299d16cee 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_probe_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_probe_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Agents: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstAgentStatus,
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Probe(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_resources_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_resources_test.go
index 9746ea77f..f80a1673b 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_resources_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_resources_test.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Resources(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_sync_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_sync_test.go
index 8a0665e68..32d7690a5 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_sync_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_sync_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Error(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Error(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Error(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Master(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Master(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Master(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Master(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Master(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncMasters: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncMaster,
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_Sync_Worker(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						SyncWorkers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstSyncWorker,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_tls_sni_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_tls_sni_test.go
index 5f34df1ad..fe73f4871 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_tls_sni_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_tls_sni_test.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_TLS_SNI(t *testing.T) {
 				createTLSSNISecret(t, deployment.SecretsModInterface(), "sni2", deployment.Namespace())
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_TLS_SNI(t *testing.T) {
 				createTLSSNISecret(t, deployment.SecretsModInterface(), "sni2", deployment.Namespace())
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_TLS_SNI(t *testing.T) {
 				createTLSSNISecret(t, deployment.SecretsModInterface(), "sni2", deployment.Namespace())
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_TLS_SNI(t *testing.T) {
 				createTLSSNISecret(t, deployment.SecretsModInterface(), "sni2", deployment.Namespace())
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						Coordinators: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstCoordinatorStatus,
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_TLS_SNI(t *testing.T) {
 				createTLSSNISecret(t, deployment.SecretsModInterface(), "sni2", deployment.Namespace())
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_volumes_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_volumes_test.go
index 29b92fa06..5d0f3bdb7 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_volumes_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_pod_volumes_test.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			Helper: func(t *testing.T, deployment *Deployment, testCase *testCaseStruct) {
-				deployment.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 					Members: api.DeploymentStatusMembers{
 						DBServers: api.MemberStatusList{
 							firstDBServerStatus,
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func TestEnsurePod_ArangoDB_Volumes(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Images: createTestImages(false),
 				}
-				deployment.status.last.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
+				deployment.currentObjectStatus.Members.DBServers[0].IsInitialized = true
 
 				testCase.createTestPodData(deployment, api.ServerGroupDBServers, firstDBServerStatus)
 			},
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_run_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_run_test.go
index 6d1493664..705a2d066 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_run_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_run_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 
 		d, eventRecorder := createTestDeployment(t, testCase.config, testCase.ArangoDeployment)
 
-		startDepl := d.status.last.DeepCopy()
+		startDepl := d.GetStatus()
 
 		errs := 0
 		for {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 
 		f := startDepl.Members.AsList()
 		if len(f) == 0 {
-			f = d.status.last.Members.AsList()
+			f = d.GetStatus().Members.AsList()
 		}
 
 		// Add Expected pod defaults
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 		}
 
 		// Create custom resource in the fake kubernetes API
-		_, err := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(testNamespace).Create(context.Background(), d.apiObject, meta.CreateOptions{})
+		_, err := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(testNamespace).Create(context.Background(), d.currentObject, meta.CreateOptions{})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		if testCase.Resources != nil {
@@ -124,17 +124,17 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 		}
 
 		// Set Pending phase
-		for _, e := range d.status.last.Members.AsList() {
+		for _, e := range d.GetStatus().Members.AsList() {
 			m := e.Member
 			if m.Phase == api.MemberPhaseNone {
 				m.Phase = api.MemberPhasePending
-				require.NoError(t, d.status.last.Members.Update(m, e.Group))
+				require.NoError(t, d.currentObjectStatus.Members.Update(m, e.Group))
 			}
 		}
 
 		// Set members
 		var loopErr error
-		for _, e := range d.status.last.Members.AsList() {
+		for _, e := range d.GetStatus().Members.AsList() {
 			m := e.Member
 			group := e.Group
 			member := api.ArangoMember{
@@ -167,13 +167,13 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 
 			require.NoError(t, d.acs.CurrentClusterCache().Refresh(context.Background()))
 
-			groupSpec := d.apiObject.Spec.GetServerGroupSpec(group)
+			groupSpec := d.GetSpec().GetServerGroupSpec(group)
 
-			image, ok := d.resources.SelectImage(d.apiObject.Spec, d.status.last)
+			image, ok := d.resources.SelectImage(d.GetSpec(), d.GetStatus())
 			require.True(t, ok)
 
 			var template *core.PodTemplateSpec
-			template, loopErr = d.resources.RenderPodTemplateForMember(context.Background(), d.ACS(), d.apiObject.Spec, d.status.last, m.ID, image)
+			template, loopErr = d.resources.RenderPodTemplateForMember(context.Background(), d.ACS(), d.GetSpec(), d.GetStatus(), m.ID, image)
 			if loopErr != nil {
 				break
 			}
@@ -237,8 +237,7 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 				assert.Fail(t, "expected event", "expected event with message '%s'", testCase.ExpectedEvent)
 			}
 
-			status, version := d.GetStatus()
-			assert.Equal(t, int32(1), version)
+			status := d.GetStatus()
 
 			checkEachMember := func(group api.ServerGroup, groupSpec api.ServerGroupSpec, status *api.MemberStatusList) error {
 				for _, m := range *status {
@@ -256,12 +255,12 @@ func runTestCase(t *testing.T, testCase testCaseStruct) {
 					require.Equal(t, false, exist)
 
 					require.NotNil(t, m.Image)
-					require.True(t, m.Image.Equal(d.apiObject.Status.CurrentImage))
+					require.True(t, m.Image.Equal(d.currentObject.Status.CurrentImage))
 				}
 				return nil
 			}
 
-			d.GetServerGroupIterator().ForeachServerGroup(checkEachMember, &status)
+			d.GetServerGroupIterator().ForeachServerGroupAccepted(checkEachMember, &status)
 		}
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/deployment_suite_test.go b/pkg/deployment/deployment_suite_test.go
index 7d69aaf67..20759454f 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/deployment_suite_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/deployment_suite_test.go
@@ -491,14 +491,15 @@ func createTestDeployment(t *testing.T, config Config, arangoDeployment *api.Ara
 	i := inspector.NewInspector(throttle.NewAlwaysThrottleComponents(), deps.Client, arangoDeployment.GetNamespace(), arangoDeployment.GetName())
 
 	d := &Deployment{
-		apiObject: arangoDeployment,
-		name:      arangoDeployment.GetName(),
-		namespace: arangoDeployment.GetNamespace(),
-		config:    config,
-		deps:      deps,
-		eventCh:   make(chan *deploymentEvent, deploymentEventQueueSize),
-		stopCh:    make(chan struct{}),
-		log:       logger,
+		currentObject:       arangoDeployment,
+		currentObjectStatus: arangoDeployment.Status.DeepCopy(),
+		name:                arangoDeployment.GetName(),
+		namespace:           arangoDeployment.GetNamespace(),
+		config:              config,
+		deps:                deps,
+		eventCh:             make(chan *deploymentEvent, deploymentEventQueueSize),
+		stopCh:              make(chan struct{}),
+		log:                 logger,
 	}
 	d.clientCache = client.NewClientCache(d, conn.NewFactory(d.getAuth, d.getConnConfig))
 	d.acs = acs.NewACS("", i)
@@ -602,10 +603,10 @@ func (testCase *testCaseStruct) createTestPodData(deployment *Deployment, group
 	}
 
 	// Add image info
-	if member, group, ok := deployment.apiObject.Status.Members.ElementByID(memberStatus.ID); ok {
-		member.Image = deployment.apiObject.Status.CurrentImage
+	if member, group, ok := deployment.currentObject.Status.Members.ElementByID(memberStatus.ID); ok {
+		member.Image = deployment.currentObject.Status.CurrentImage
 
-		deployment.apiObject.Status.Members.Update(member, group)
+		deployment.currentObject.Status.Members.Update(member, group)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/features/deployment.go b/pkg/deployment/features/deployment.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cce77ac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/deployment/features/deployment.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+//
+// DISCLAIMER
+//
+// Copyright 2016-2022 ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+// Copyright holder is ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+
+package features
+
+func init() {
+	registerFeature(deploymentSpecDefaultsRestore)
+}
+
+var deploymentSpecDefaultsRestore = &feature{
+	name:               "deployment-spec-defaults-restore",
+	description:        "Restore defaults from last accepted state of deployment",
+	version:            "3.6.0",
+	enterpriseRequired: false,
+	enabledByDefault:   true,
+	hidden:             true,
+}
+
+func DeploymentSpecDefaultsRestore() Feature {
+	return deploymentSpecDefaultsRestore
+}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/images.go b/pkg/deployment/images.go
index bf8de090c..0b1a82dca 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/images.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/images.go
@@ -87,15 +87,15 @@ type imagesBuilder struct {
 // ensureImages creates pods needed to detect ImageID for specified images.
 // Returns: retrySoon, error
 func (d *Deployment) ensureImages(ctx context.Context, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment, cachedStatus inspectorInterface.Inspector) (bool, bool, error) {
-	status, lastVersion := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	ib := imagesBuilder{
 		Context:   d,
 		APIObject: apiObject,
-		Spec:      apiObject.Spec,
+		Spec:      apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec(),
 		Status:    status,
 		Log:       d.log,
 		UpdateCRStatus: func(status api.DeploymentStatus) error {
-			if err := d.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+			if err := d.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 				return errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
 			return nil
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/images_test.go b/pkg/deployment/images_test.go
index 123413d07..139171656 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/images_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/images_test.go
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ func TestEnsureImages(t *testing.T) {
 			// Arrange
 			d, _ := createTestDeployment(t, Config{}, testCase.ArangoDeployment)
 
-			d.status.last = api.DeploymentStatus{
+			d.currentObjectStatus = &api.DeploymentStatus{
 				Images: createTestImages(false),
 			}
 
@@ -434,13 +434,13 @@ func TestEnsureImages(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			// Create custom resource in the fake kubernetes API
-			_, err := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(testNamespace).Create(context.Background(), d.apiObject, meta.CreateOptions{})
+			_, err := d.deps.Client.Arango().DatabaseV1().ArangoDeployments(testNamespace).Create(context.Background(), d.currentObject, meta.CreateOptions{})
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			require.NoError(t, d.acs.CurrentClusterCache().Refresh(context.Background()))
 
 			// Act
-			retrySoon, _, err := d.ensureImages(context.Background(), d.apiObject, d.GetCachedStatus())
+			retrySoon, _, err := d.ensureImages(context.Background(), d.currentObject, d.GetCachedStatus())
 
 			// Assert
 			assert.EqualValues(t, testCase.RetrySoon, retrySoon)
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/informers.go b/pkg/deployment/informers.go
index d0650b989..50c4e938c 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/informers.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/informers.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) listenForPodEvents(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	rw := k8sutil.NewResourceWatcher(
 		d.deps.Client.Kubernetes().CoreV1().RESTClient(),
 		"pods",
-		d.apiObject.GetNamespace(),
+		d.currentObject.GetNamespace(),
 		&core.Pod{},
 		cache.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
 			AddFunc: func(obj interface{}) {
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) listenForPVCEvents(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	rw := k8sutil.NewResourceWatcher(
 		d.deps.Client.Kubernetes().CoreV1().RESTClient(),
 		"persistentvolumeclaims",
-		d.apiObject.GetNamespace(),
+		d.currentObject.GetNamespace(),
 		&core.PersistentVolumeClaim{},
 		cache.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
 			AddFunc: func(obj interface{}) {
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) listenForSecretEvents(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	rw := k8sutil.NewResourceWatcher(
 		d.deps.Client.Kubernetes().CoreV1().RESTClient(),
 		"secrets",
-		d.apiObject.GetNamespace(),
+		d.currentObject.GetNamespace(),
 		&core.Secret{},
 		cache.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
 			// Note: For secrets we look at all of them because they do not have to be owned by this deployment.
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) listenForServiceEvents(stopCh <-chan struct{}) {
 	rw := k8sutil.NewResourceWatcher(
 		d.deps.Client.Kubernetes().CoreV1().RESTClient(),
 		"services",
-		d.apiObject.GetNamespace(),
+		d.currentObject.GetNamespace(),
 		&core.Service{},
 		cache.ResourceEventHandlerFuncs{
 			AddFunc: func(obj interface{}) {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/members.go b/pkg/deployment/members.go
index 82f3bffcb..491b6e06e 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/members.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/members.go
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ import (
 
 func (d *Deployment) createAgencyMapping(ctx context.Context) error {
 	spec := d.GetSpec()
-	status := d.GetStatusSnapshot()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 
-	if !spec.Mode.HasAgents() {
+	if !spec.Mode.Get().HasAgents() {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) renderMember(spec api.DeploymentSpec, status *api.Deploymen
 	}
 	deploymentName := apiObject.GetName()
 	role := group.AsRole()
-	arch := apiObject.Spec.Architecture.GetDefault()
+	arch := apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().Architecture.GetDefault()
 
 	switch group {
 	case api.ServerGroupSingle:
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/metrics.go b/pkg/deployment/metrics.go
index 6df76bf02..8f22de29c 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/metrics.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/metrics.go
@@ -31,6 +31,14 @@ type Metrics struct {
 		Fetches uint64
 		Index   uint64
 	}
+
+	Errors struct {
+		DeploymentValidationErrors, DeploymentImmutableErrors uint64
+	}
+
+	Deployment struct {
+		Accepted, UpToDate bool
+	}
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) CollectMetrics(m metrics.PushMetric) {
@@ -38,6 +46,20 @@ func (d *Deployment) CollectMetrics(m metrics.PushMetric) {
 	m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorAgencyFetchesCounter(float64(d.metrics.Agency.Fetches), d.namespace, d.name))
 	m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorAgencyIndexGauge(float64(d.metrics.Agency.Index), d.namespace, d.name))
 
+	m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrorsCounter(float64(d.metrics.Errors.DeploymentValidationErrors), d.namespace, d.name))
+	m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrorsCounter(float64(d.metrics.Errors.DeploymentValidationErrors), d.namespace, d.name))
+
+	if d.metrics.Deployment.Accepted {
+		m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAcceptedGauge(1, d.namespace, d.name))
+	} else {
+		m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAcceptedGauge(0, d.namespace, d.name))
+	}
+	if d.metrics.Deployment.UpToDate {
+		m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodateGauge(1, d.namespace, d.name))
+	} else {
+		m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodateGauge(0, d.namespace, d.name))
+	}
+
 	if c := d.agencyCache; c != nil {
 		m.Push(metric_descriptions.ArangodbOperatorAgencyCachePresentGauge(1, d.namespace, d.name))
 		if h, ok := c.Health(); ok {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/old_metrics.go b/pkg/deployment/old_metrics.go
index 3c005c012..1f9144296 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/old_metrics.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/old_metrics.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (i *inventory) Collect(m chan<- prometheus.Metric) {
 			}
 
 			spec := deployment.GetSpec()
-			status, _ := deployment.GetStatus()
+			status := deployment.GetStatus()
 
 			for _, member := range status.Members.AsList() {
 				p.Push(i.deploymentMetricsMembersMetric.Gauge(1, deployment.GetNamespace(), deployment.GetName(), member.Group.AsRole(), member.Member.ID))
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_arango_member_update_pod_spec.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_arango_member_update_pod_spec.go
index 0122bf841..f5a632ca4 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_arango_member_update_pod_spec.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_arango_member_update_pod_spec.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ type actionArangoMemberUpdatePodSpec struct {
 // the start time needs to be recorded and a ready condition needs to be checked.
 func (a *actionArangoMemberUpdatePodSpec) Start(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 	spec := a.actionCtx.GetSpec()
-	status := a.actionCtx.GetStatusSnapshot()
+	status := a.actionCtx.GetStatus()
 
 	m, found := a.actionCtx.GetMemberStatusByID(a.action.MemberID)
 	if !found {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore.go
index 23f024dee..a99ba2304 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ type actionBackupRestore struct {
 
 func (a actionBackupRestore) Start(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 	spec := a.actionCtx.GetSpec()
-	status := a.actionCtx.GetStatusSnapshot()
+	status := a.actionCtx.GetStatus()
 
 	if spec.RestoreFrom == nil {
 		return true, nil
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (a actionBackupRestore) Start(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 		s.Restore = result
 
 		return true
-	}, true); err != nil {
+	}); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore_clean.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore_clean.go
index c64637401..02bc1318e 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore_clean.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_backup_restore_clean.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (a actionBackupRestoreClean) Start(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 
 		s.Restore = nil
 		return true
-	}, true); err != nil {
+	}); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_bootstrap_update.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_bootstrap_update.go
index 9076e5f3b..8b2d9d02a 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_bootstrap_update.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_bootstrap_update.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func (a actionBootstrapUpdate) Start(ctx context.Context) (bool, error) {
 			status.Conditions.Update(api.ConditionTypeBootstrapSucceded, true, "Bootstrap successful", "The bootstrap process has been completed successfully")
 		}
 		return true
-	}, true); err != nil {
+	}); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_context.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_context.go
index e8c407202..62d0eb748 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_context.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_context.go
@@ -199,20 +199,20 @@ func (ac *actionContext) GetMembersState() member.StateInspector {
 	return ac.context.GetMembersState()
 }
 
-func (ac *actionContext) UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error {
-	return ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion, force...)
+func (ac *actionContext) UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus) error {
+	return ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status)
 }
 
 func (ac *actionContext) GetNamespace() string {
 	return ac.context.GetNamespace()
 }
 
-func (ac *actionContext) GetStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32) {
+func (ac *actionContext) GetStatus() api.DeploymentStatus {
 	return ac.context.GetStatus()
 }
 
 func (ac *actionContext) GetStatusSnapshot() api.DeploymentStatus {
-	return ac.context.GetStatusSnapshot()
+	return ac.context.GetStatus()
 }
 
 func (ac *actionContext) GenerateMemberEndpoint(group api.ServerGroup, member api.MemberStatus) (string, error) {
@@ -255,12 +255,12 @@ func (ac *actionContext) GetBackup(ctx context.Context, backup string) (*backupA
 	return ac.context.GetBackup(ctx, backup)
 }
 
-func (ac *actionContext) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc, force ...bool) error {
-	return ac.context.WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx, action, force...)
+func (ac *actionContext) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc) error {
+	return ac.context.WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx, action)
 }
 
-func (ac *actionContext) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc, force ...bool) error {
-	return ac.context.WithStatusUpdate(ctx, action, force...)
+func (ac *actionContext) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc) error {
+	return ac.context.WithStatusUpdate(ctx, action)
 }
 
 func (ac *actionContext) UpdateClusterCondition(ctx context.Context, conditionType api.ConditionType, status bool, reason, message string) error {
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) GetSpec() api.DeploymentSpec {
 // Returns member status, true when found, or false
 // when no such member is found.
 func (ac *actionContext) GetMemberStatusByID(id string) (api.MemberStatus, bool) {
-	status, _ := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 	m, _, ok := status.Members.ElementByID(id)
 	return m, ok
 }
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) GetMemberStatusByID(id string) (api.MemberStatus, bool)
 // Returns member status, true when found, or false
 // when no such member is found.
 func (ac *actionContext) GetMemberStatusAndGroupByID(id string) (api.MemberStatus, api.ServerGroup, bool) {
-	status, _ := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 	return status.Members.ElementByID(id)
 }
 
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) CreateMember(ctx context.Context, group api.ServerGroup
 
 // UpdateMember updates the deployment status wrt the given member.
 func (ac *actionContext) UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStatus) error {
-	status, lastVersion := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 	_, group, found := status.Members.ElementByID(member.ID)
 	if !found {
 		return errors.WithStack(errors.Newf("Member %s not found", member.ID))
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStat
 	if err := status.Members.Update(member, group); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+	if err := ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 		ac.log.Err(err).Debug("Updating CR status failed")
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStat
 
 // RemoveMemberByID removes a member with given id.
 func (ac *actionContext) RemoveMemberByID(ctx context.Context, id string) error {
-	status, lastVersion := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 	_, group, found := status.Members.ElementByID(id)
 	if !found {
 		return nil
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) RemoveMemberByID(ctx context.Context, id string) error
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 	// Save removed member
-	if err := ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+	if err := ac.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -353,14 +353,14 @@ func (ac *actionContext) RemoveMemberByID(ctx context.Context, id string) error
 // GetImageInfo returns the image info for an image with given name.
 // Returns: (info, infoFound)
 func (ac *actionContext) GetImageInfo(imageName string) (api.ImageInfo, bool) {
-	status, _ := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 	return status.Images.GetByImage(imageName)
 }
 
 // GetImageInfo returns the image info for an current image.
 // Returns: (info, infoFound)
 func (ac *actionContext) GetCurrentImageInfo() (api.ImageInfo, bool) {
-	status, _ := ac.context.GetStatus()
+	status := ac.context.GetStatus()
 
 	if status.CurrentImage == nil {
 		return api.ImageInfo{}, false
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ func (ac *actionContext) SetCurrentImage(ctx context.Context, imageInfo api.Imag
 			return true
 		}
 		return false
-	}, true)
+	})
 }
 
 // DisableScalingCluster disables scaling DBservers and coordinators
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_helper.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_helper.go
index 344bc6007..0b47a40e9 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_helper.go
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func (a actionImpl) wrap(in *zerolog.Event) *zerolog.Event {
 		Str("group", a.action.Group.AsRole()).
 		Str("member-id", a.action.MemberID)
 
-	if status, _ := a.actionCtx.GetStatus(); status.Members.ContainsID(a.action.MemberID) {
+	if status := a.actionCtx.GetStatus(); status.Members.ContainsID(a.action.MemberID) {
 		if member, _, ok := status.Members.ElementByID(a.action.MemberID); ok {
 			in = in.Str("phase", string(member.Phase))
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_refresh.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_refresh.go
index 677668e18..6ede250a8 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_refresh.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_refresh.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ type jwtRefreshAction struct {
 }
 
 func (a *jwtRefreshAction) CheckProgress(ctx context.Context) (bool, bool, error) {
-	if folder, err := ensureJWTFolderSupport(a.actionCtx.GetSpec(), a.actionCtx.GetStatusSnapshot()); err != nil || !folder {
+	if folder, err := ensureJWTFolderSupport(a.actionCtx.GetSpec(), a.actionCtx.GetStatus()); err != nil || !folder {
 		return true, false, nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_status_update.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_status_update.go
index 850e8aa73..11122be30 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_status_update.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/action_jwt_status_update.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 func ensureJWTFolderSupportFromAction(actionCtx ActionContext) (bool, error) {
-	return ensureJWTFolderSupport(actionCtx.GetSpec(), actionCtx.GetStatusSnapshot())
+	return ensureJWTFolderSupport(actionCtx.GetSpec(), actionCtx.GetStatus())
 }
 
 func ensureJWTFolderSupport(spec api.DeploymentSpec, status api.DeploymentStatus) (bool, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_clean_out.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_clean_out.go
index 7be96c157..f01143a75 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_clean_out.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_clean_out.go
@@ -22,13 +22,9 @@ package reconcile
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"github.com/arangodb/go-driver"
 
 	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/actions"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/globals"
+	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/agency"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/k8sutil"
 )
 
@@ -40,53 +36,23 @@ func (r *Reconciler) createCleanOutPlan(ctx context.Context, _ k8sutil.APIObject
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if !status.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeUpToDate) {
-		// Do not consider to mark cleanedout servers when changes are propagating
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	cluster, err := getCluster(ctx, planCtx)
-	if err != nil {
-		r.log.Err(err).Warn("Unable to get cluster")
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().ArangoD().WithTimeout(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-	health, err := cluster.Health(ctxChild)
-	if err != nil {
-		r.log.Err(err).Warn("Unable to get cluster health")
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	var plan api.Plan
 
-	for id, member := range health.Health {
-		switch member.Role {
-		case driver.ServerRoleDBServer:
-			memberStatus, ok := status.Members.DBServers.ElementByID(string(id))
-			if !ok {
-				continue
-			}
+	cache, ok := planCtx.GetAgencyCache()
+	if !ok {
+		r.log.Debug("AgencyCache is not ready")
+		return nil
+	}
 
-			if memberStatus.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeCleanedOut) {
-				continue
-			}
+	for _, m := range status.Members.AsListInGroup(api.ServerGroupDBServers) {
+		cleanedStatus := m.Member.Conditions.IsTrue(api.ConditionTypeCleanedOut)
+		cleanedAgency := cache.Target.CleanedServers.Contains(agency.Server(m.Member.ID))
 
-			if isCleanedOut, err := cluster.IsCleanedOut(ctx, string(id)); err != nil {
-				r.log.Err(err).Str("id", string(id)).Warn("Unable to get clean out status")
-				return nil
-			} else if isCleanedOut {
-				r.log.
-					Str("role", string(member.Role)).
-					Str("id", string(id)).
-					Info("server is cleaned out so operator must do the same")
-
-				action := actions.NewAction(api.ActionTypeSetMemberCondition, api.ServerGroupDBServers, withPredefinedMember(string(id)),
-					"server is cleaned out so operator must do the same").
-					AddParam(string(api.ConditionTypeCleanedOut), strconv.FormatBool(true))
-
-				plan = append(plan, action)
+		if cleanedStatus != cleanedAgency {
+			if cleanedAgency {
+				plan = append(plan, updateMemberConditionActionV2("DBServer cleaned", api.ConditionTypeCleanedOut, m.Group, m.Member.ID, true, "DBServer cleaned", "DBServer cleaned", ""))
+			} else {
+				plan = append(plan, removeMemberConditionActionV2("DBServer is not cleaned", api.ConditionTypeCleanedOut, m.Group, m.Member.ID))
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_generator.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_generator.go
index 21425ddda..618eb8b2f 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_generator.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_generator.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (d *Reconciler) generatePlanFunc(gen planGeneratorFunc, planner planner) pl
 		// Create plan
 		apiObject := d.context.GetAPIObject()
 		spec := d.context.GetSpec()
-		status, _ := d.context.GetStatus()
+		status := d.context.GetStatus()
 		builderCtx := newPlanBuilderContext(d.context)
 		newPlan, backoffs, changed := gen(ctx, apiObject, planner.Get(&status), spec, status, builderCtx)
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_member_recovery.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_member_recovery.go
index 16e27b931..0b3e034b4 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_member_recovery.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_member_recovery.go
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ func (r *Reconciler) createMemberFailedRestoreInternal(_ context.Context, _ k8su
 					continue
 				}
 
+				if agencyState.Target.CleanedServers.Contains(agency.Server(m.ID)) {
+					memberLog.Info("Member is CleanedOut")
+					continue
+				}
+
 				if agencyState.Plan.Collections.IsDBServerLeader(agency.Server(m.ID)) {
 					memberLog.Info("Recreating leader DBServer - it cannot be removed gracefully")
 					plan = append(plan, actions.NewAction(api.ActionTypeRecreateMember, group, m))
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_scale.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_scale.go
index 55b4f0955..1e7635148 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_scale.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_scale.go
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import (
 
 	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/actions"
+	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/agency"
+	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/reconciler"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/k8sutil"
 )
 
@@ -84,7 +86,7 @@ func (r *Reconciler) createScalePlan(status api.DeploymentStatus, members api.Me
 			Debug("Creating scale-up plan")
 	} else if len(members) > count {
 		// Note, we scale down 1 member at a time
-		if m, err := members.SelectMemberToRemove(topologyMissingMemberToRemoveSelector(status.Topology), topologyAwarenessMemberToRemoveSelector(group, status.Topology)); err != nil {
+		if m, err := members.SelectMemberToRemove(getCleanedServer(context), topologyMissingMemberToRemoveSelector(status.Topology), topologyAwarenessMemberToRemoveSelector(group, status.Topology)); err != nil {
 			r.planLogger.Err(err).Str("role", group.AsRole()).Warn("Failed to select member to remove")
 		} else {
 			ready, message := groupReadyForRestart(context, status, m, group)
@@ -158,3 +160,16 @@ func (r *Reconciler) createReplaceMemberPlan(ctx context.Context, apiObject k8su
 func filterScaleUP(a api.Action) bool {
 	return a.Type == api.ActionTypeAddMember
 }
+
+func getCleanedServer(ctx reconciler.ArangoAgencyGet) api.MemberToRemoveSelector {
+	return func(m api.MemberStatusList) (string, error) {
+		if a, ok := ctx.GetAgencyCache(); ok {
+			for _, member := range m {
+				if a.Target.CleanedServers.Contains(agency.Server(member.ID)) {
+					return member.ID, nil
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return "", nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_test.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_test.go
index 7bdcd58f0..0d9367fb7 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_builder_test.go
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func (c *testContext) ApplyPatch(ctx context.Context, p ...patch.Item) error {
 }
 
 func (c *testContext) GetStatusSnapshot() api.DeploymentStatus {
-	s, _ := c.GetStatus()
+	s := c.GetStatus()
 	return *s.DeepCopy()
 }
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func (c *testContext) ArangoMembersModInterface() arangomemberv1.ModInterface {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (c *testContext) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc, force ...bool) error {
+func (c *testContext) WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc) error {
 	_, err := action(&c.ArangoDeployment.Status)
 	return err
 }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func (c *testContext) SetAgencyMaintenanceMode(ctx context.Context, enabled bool
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (c *testContext) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc, force ...bool) error {
+func (c *testContext) WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc) error {
 	action(&c.ArangoDeployment.Status)
 	return nil
 }
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ func (c *testContext) GetSpec() api.DeploymentSpec {
 	return c.ArangoDeployment.Spec
 }
 
-func (c *testContext) UpdateStatus(_ context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error {
+func (c *testContext) UpdateStatus(_ context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus) error {
 	c.ArangoDeployment.Status = status
 	return nil
 }
@@ -366,8 +366,8 @@ func (c *testContext) GetExpectedPodArguments(apiObject meta.Object, deplSpec ap
 }
 
 // GetStatus returns the current status of the deployment
-func (c *testContext) GetStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32) {
-	return c.ArangoDeployment.Status, 0
+func (c *testContext) GetStatus() api.DeploymentStatus {
+	return c.ArangoDeployment.Status
 }
 
 func addAgentsToStatus(t *testing.T, status *api.DeploymentStatus, count int) {
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ func TestCreatePlan(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			status, _ := testCase.context.GetStatus()
+			status := testCase.context.GetStatus()
 
 			if len(testCase.ExpectedHighPlan) > 0 {
 				require.Len(t, status.HighPriorityPlan, len(testCase.ExpectedHighPlan))
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_executor.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_executor.go
index b72821186..37d149eaf 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_executor.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/plan_executor.go
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func (d *Reconciler) executePlanInLoop(ctx context.Context) (bool, bool, error)
 }
 
 func (d *Reconciler) executePlanStatus(ctx context.Context, pg planner) (bool, bool, error) {
-	loopStatus, _ := d.context.GetStatus()
+	loopStatus := d.context.GetStatus()
 
 	plan := pg.Get(&loopStatus)
 
@@ -189,11 +189,11 @@ func (d *Reconciler) executePlanStatus(ctx context.Context, pg planner) (bool, b
 	newPlan, callAgain, callInLoop, err := d.executePlan(ctx, plan, pg)
 
 	// Refresh current status
-	loopStatus, lastVersion := d.context.GetStatus()
+	loopStatus = d.context.GetStatus()
 
 	if pg.Set(&loopStatus, newPlan) {
 		d.planLogger.Info("Updating plan")
-		if err := d.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, loopStatus, lastVersion, true); err != nil {
+		if err := d.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, loopStatus); err != nil {
 			d.planLogger.Err(err).Debug("Failed to update CR status")
 			return false, false, errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/reconciler.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/reconciler.go
index d115ab9b9..6a7128c66 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/reconciler.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/reconciler.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (r *Reconciler) WrapLogger(in *zerolog.Event) *zerolog.Event {
 // CheckDeployment checks for obviously broken things and fixes them immediately
 func (r *Reconciler) CheckDeployment(ctx context.Context) error {
 	spec := r.context.GetSpec()
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 
 	if spec.GetMode().HasCoordinators() {
 		// Check if there are coordinators
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/utils.go b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/utils.go
index a320a2d96..8f8c90058 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconcile/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconcile/utils.go
@@ -21,18 +21,13 @@
 package reconcile
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"sort"
 
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 
-	"github.com/arangodb/go-driver"
-
 	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/errors"
-	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/globals"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/k8sutil/inspector/pod"
 )
 
@@ -52,23 +47,6 @@ func secretKeysToList(s *core.Secret) []string {
 	return keys
 }
 
-// getCluster returns the cluster connection.
-func getCluster(ctx context.Context, planCtx PlanBuilderContext) (driver.Cluster, error) {
-	c, err := planCtx.GetMembersState().State().GetDatabaseClient()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.WithStack(errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to get database client"))
-	}
-
-	ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().ArangoD().WithTimeout(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-	cluster, err := c.Cluster(ctxChild)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.WithStack(errors.Wrapf(err, "Unable to get cluster client"))
-	}
-
-	return cluster, nil
-}
-
 func ifPodUIDMismatch(m api.MemberStatus, a api.Action, i pod.Inspector) bool {
 	ut, ok := a.GetParam(api.ParamPodUID)
 	if !ok || ut == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/reconciler/context.go b/pkg/deployment/reconciler/context.go
index 6aaa0f5af..6f1f0b600 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/reconciler/context.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/reconciler/context.go
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ import (
 // ServerGroupIterator provides a helper to callback on every server
 // group of the deployment.
 type ServerGroupIterator interface {
-	// ForeachServerGroup calls the given callback for all server groups.
+	// ForeachServerGroupAccepted calls the given callback for all accepted server groups.
 	// If the callback returns an error, this error is returned and no other server
 	// groups are processed.
 	// Groups are processed in this order: agents, single, dbservers, coordinators, syncmasters, syncworkers
-	ForeachServerGroup(cb api.ServerGroupFunc, status *api.DeploymentStatus) error
+	ForeachServerGroupAccepted(cb api.ServerGroupFunc, status *api.DeploymentStatus) error
 }
 
 type DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) (bool, error)
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ type DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc func(s *api.DeploymentStatus) bool
 
 type DeploymentStatusUpdate interface {
 	// WithStatusUpdateErr update status of ArangoDeployment with defined modifier. If action returns True action is taken
-	WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc, force ...bool) error
+	WithStatusUpdateErr(ctx context.Context, action DeploymentStatusUpdateErrFunc) error
 	// WithStatusUpdate update status of ArangoDeployment with defined modifier. If action returns True action is taken
-	WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc, force ...bool) error
+	WithStatusUpdate(ctx context.Context, action DeploymentStatusUpdateFunc) error
 
 	// UpdateStatus replaces the status of the deployment with the given status and
 	// updates the resources in k8s.
-	UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error
+	UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus) error
 	// UpdateMember updates the deployment status wrt the given member.
 	UpdateMember(ctx context.Context, member api.MemberStatus) error
 }
@@ -104,9 +104,7 @@ type DeploymentInfoGetter interface {
 	// GetSpec returns the current specification of the deployment
 	GetSpec() api.DeploymentSpec
 	// GetStatus returns the current status of the deployment
-	GetStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32)
-	// GetStatusSnapshot returns the current status of the deployment without revision
-	GetStatusSnapshot() api.DeploymentStatus
+	GetStatus() api.DeploymentStatus
 	// GetMode the specified mode of deployment
 	GetMode() api.DeploymentMode
 	// GetName returns the name of the deployment
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resilience/context.go b/pkg/deployment/resilience/context.go
index a1e16ec89..e9ee6e3cc 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resilience/context.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resilience/context.go
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@
 package resilience
 
 import (
-	"context"
-
-	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/reconciler"
 )
 
@@ -31,12 +28,6 @@ import (
 type Context interface {
 	reconciler.DeploymentDatabaseClient
 	reconciler.ArangoAgency
-
-	// GetSpec returns the current specification of the deployment
-	GetSpec() api.DeploymentSpec
-	// GetStatus returns the current status of the deployment
-	GetStatus() (api.DeploymentStatus, int32)
-	// UpdateStatus replaces the status of the deployment with the given status and
-	// updates the resources in k8s.
-	UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error
+	reconciler.DeploymentInfoGetter
+	reconciler.DeploymentStatusUpdate
 }
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resilience/member_failure.go b/pkg/deployment/resilience/member_failure.go
index 3f67c651f..9256badb4 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resilience/member_failure.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resilience/member_failure.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const (
 // - They are frequently restarted
 // - They cannot be scheduled for a long time (TODO)
 func (r *Resilience) CheckMemberFailure(ctx context.Context) error {
-	status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	updateStatusNeeded := false
 
 	for _, e := range status.Members.AsList() {
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func (r *Resilience) CheckMemberFailure(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	if updateStatusNeeded {
-		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/context.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/context.go
index 7787f8c9b..0e5907517 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/context.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/context.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import (
 	core "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 
 	backupApi "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/backup/v1"
-	api "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/apis/deployment/v1"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/acs/sutil"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/member"
 	"github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/deployment/reconciler"
@@ -52,9 +51,6 @@ type Context interface {
 
 	// GetServerGroupIterator returns the deployment as ServerGroupIterator.
 	GetServerGroupIterator() reconciler.ServerGroupIterator
-	// UpdateStatus replaces the status of the deployment with the given status and
-	// updates the resources in k8s.
-	UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, status api.DeploymentStatus, lastVersion int32, force ...bool) error
 	// GetOperatorImage returns the image name of operator image
 	GetOperatorImage() string
 	// GetArangoImage returns the image name containing the default arango image
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/member_cleanup.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/member_cleanup.go
index e12b03697..781306c61 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/member_cleanup.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/member_cleanup.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (r *Resources) syncMembersInCluster(ctx context.Context, health memberState
 		return found
 	}
 
-	status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	updateStatusNeeded := false
 
 	for _, e := range status.Members.AsListInGroups(api.ServerGroupCoordinators, api.ServerGroupDBServers) {
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (r *Resources) syncMembersInCluster(ctx context.Context, health memberState
 	if updateStatusNeeded {
 		log.Debug("UpdateStatus needed")
 
-		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 			log.Err(err).Warn("Failed to update deployment status")
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (r *Resources) syncMembersInCluster(ctx context.Context, health memberState
 
 func (r *Resources) EnsureArangoMembers(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInterface.Inspector) error {
 	// Create all missing arangomembers
-	s, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	s := r.context.GetStatus()
 	obj := r.context.GetAPIObject()
 
 	for _, e := range s.Members.AsList() {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_cleanup.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_cleanup.go
index b68ab1d83..952e2547d 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_cleanup.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_cleanup.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (r *Resources) CleanupTerminatedPods(ctx context.Context) (util.Interval, e
 	nextInterval := maxPodInspectorInterval // Large by default, will be made smaller if needed in the rest of the function
 
 	// Update member status from all pods found
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	if err := r.context.ACS().ForEachHealthyCluster(func(item sutil.ACSItem) error {
 		return item.Cache().Pod().V1().Iterate(func(pod *core.Pod) error {
 			if k8sutil.IsArangoDBImageIDAndVersionPod(pod) {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_creator.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_creator.go
index 353fed87a..feaf7aae3 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_creator.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_creator.go
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ func (r *Resources) SelectImageForMember(spec api.DeploymentSpec, status api.Dep
 // createPodForMember creates all Pods listed in member status
 func (r *Resources) createPodForMember(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInterface.Inspector, spec api.DeploymentSpec, arangoMember *api.ArangoMember, memberID string, imageNotFoundOnce *sync.Once) error {
 	log := r.log.Str("section", "member")
-	status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 
 	// Select image
 	imageInfo, imageFound := r.SelectImage(spec, status)
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ func (r *Resources) createPodForMember(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspect
 	if err := status.Members.Update(m, group); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
-	if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+	if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 		return errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 	// Create event
@@ -659,13 +659,13 @@ func ChecksumArangoPod(groupSpec api.ServerGroupSpec, pod *core.Pod) (string, er
 // EnsurePods creates all Pods listed in member status
 func (r *Resources) EnsurePods(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInterface.Inspector) error {
 	iterator := r.context.GetServerGroupIterator()
-	deploymentStatus, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	deploymentStatus := r.context.GetStatus()
 	imageNotFoundOnce := &sync.Once{}
 	changed := false
 
 	log := r.log.Str("section", "member")
 
-	if err := iterator.ForeachServerGroup(func(group api.ServerGroup, groupSpec api.ServerGroupSpec, status *api.MemberStatusList) error {
+	if err := iterator.ForeachServerGroupAccepted(func(group api.ServerGroup, groupSpec api.ServerGroupSpec, status *api.MemberStatusList) error {
 		for _, m := range *status {
 			if m.Phase != api.MemberPhasePending {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_finalizers.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_finalizers.go
index 0eda21fd0..aeb8719ed 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_finalizers.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_finalizers.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func (r *Resources) runPodFinalizers(ctx context.Context, p *core.Pod, memberSta
 				break
 			}
 
-			s, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+			s := r.context.GetStatus()
 			_, group, ok := s.Members.ElementByID(memberStatus.ID)
 			if !ok {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_inspector.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_inspector.go
index a787ad978..75cd5ed4a 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_inspector.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_inspector.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (r *Resources) InspectPods(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInter
 
 	agencyCache, agencyCachePresent := r.context.GetAgencyCache()
 
-	status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	var podNamesWithScheduleTimeout []string
 	var unscheduledPodNames []string
 
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ func (r *Resources) InspectPods(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInter
 	}
 
 	// Save status
-	if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+	if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 		return 0, errors.WithStack(err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_leader.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_leader.go
index c9cafd0d1..75c8f87bc 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_leader.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pod_leader.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureLeader(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInte
 	}
 
 	leaderID := cache.LeaderID()
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	noLeader := len(leaderID) == 0
 	changed := false
 	group := api.ServerGroupAgents
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureLeader(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInte
 
 // getSingleServerLeaderID returns id of a single server leader.
 func (r *Resources) getSingleServerLeaderID(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	var mutex sync.Mutex
 	var leaderID string
 	var anyError error
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ func (r *Resources) ensureSingleServerLeader(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus i
 		}
 	}
 
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	for _, m := range status.Members.Single {
 		pod, exist := cachedStatus.Pod().V1().GetSimple(m.Pod.GetName())
 		if !exist {
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pvc_inspector.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pvc_inspector.go
index bc9e34548..984a8c03d 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pvc_inspector.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pvc_inspector.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (r *Resources) InspectPVCs(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInter
 	defer metrics.SetDuration(inspectPVCsDurationGauges.WithLabelValues(deploymentName), start)
 
 	// Update member status from all pods found
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	if err := cachedStatus.PersistentVolumeClaim().V1().Iterate(func(pvc *core.PersistentVolumeClaim) error {
 		// PVC belongs to this deployment, update metric
 		inspectedPVCsCounters.WithLabelValues(deploymentName).Inc()
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/pvcs.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/pvcs.go
index 98c230736..313b25fc9 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/pvcs.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/pvcs.go
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsurePVCs(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInterf
 	deploymentName := apiObject.GetName()
 	owner := apiObject.AsOwner()
 	iterator := r.context.GetServerGroupIterator()
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	enforceAntiAffinity := r.context.GetSpec().GetEnvironment().IsProduction()
 
-	if err := iterator.ForeachServerGroup(func(group api.ServerGroup, spec api.ServerGroupSpec, status *api.MemberStatusList) error {
+	if err := iterator.ForeachServerGroupAccepted(func(group api.ServerGroup, spec api.ServerGroupSpec, status *api.MemberStatusList) error {
 		for _, m := range *status {
 			if m.PersistentVolumeClaimName == "" {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/secret_hashes.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/secret_hashes.go
index caccfd9d8..908486469 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/secret_hashes.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/secret_hashes.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func (r *Resources) ValidateSecretHashes(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspe
 	spec := r.context.GetSpec()
 	deploymentName := r.context.GetAPIObject().GetName()
 	var badSecretNames []string
-	status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	image := status.CurrentImage
 	getHashes := func() *api.SecretHashes {
 		if status.SecretHashes == nil {
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ func (r *Resources) ValidateSecretHashes(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspe
 			status.SecretHashes.Users = make(map[string]string)
 		}
 		updater(status.SecretHashes)
-		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+		if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
 		// Reload status
-		status, lastVersion = r.context.GetStatus()
+		status = r.context.GetStatus()
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func (r *Resources) ValidateSecretHashes(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspe
 		if status.Conditions.Update(api.ConditionTypeSecretsChanged, true,
 			"Secrets have changed", fmt.Sprintf("Found %d changed secrets", len(badSecretNames))) {
 			log.Warn("Found %d changed secrets. Settings SecretsChanged condition", len(badSecretNames))
-			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 				log.Err(err).Error("Failed to save SecretsChanged condition")
 				return errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (r *Resources) ValidateSecretHashes(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspe
 		// All good, we van remove the SecretsChanged condition
 		if status.Conditions.Remove(api.ConditionTypeSecretsChanged) {
 			log.Info("Resetting SecretsChanged condition")
-			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 				log.Err(err).Error("Failed to save SecretsChanged condition")
 				return errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/secrets.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/secrets.go
index 00130da1d..7b96d222d 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/secrets.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/secrets.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureSecrets(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorInt
 	start := time.Now()
 	spec := r.context.GetSpec()
 	secrets := cachedStatus.SecretsModInterface().V1()
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	apiObject := r.context.GetAPIObject()
 	deploymentName := apiObject.GetName()
 	image := status.CurrentImage
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/resources/services.go b/pkg/deployment/resources/services.go
index 9924c6129..6aae53629 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/resources/services.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/resources/services.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureServices(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorIn
 	log := r.log.Str("section", "service")
 	start := time.Now()
 	apiObject := r.context.GetAPIObject()
-	status, _ := r.context.GetStatus()
+	status := r.context.GetStatus()
 	deploymentName := apiObject.GetName()
 	owner := apiObject.AsOwner()
 	spec := r.context.GetSpec()
@@ -211,10 +211,10 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureServices(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorIn
 			log.Str("service", svcName).Debug("Created database client service")
 		}
 		{
-			status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+			status := r.context.GetStatus()
 			if status.ServiceName != svcName {
 				status.ServiceName = svcName
-				if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+				if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 					return errors.WithStack(err)
 				}
 			}
@@ -240,10 +240,10 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureServices(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorIn
 			shared.ArangoSyncMasterPort, true, false, spec.Sync.ExternalAccess.ExternalAccessSpec, apiObject); err != nil {
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
-		status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+		status := r.context.GetStatus()
 		if status.SyncServiceName != eaServiceName {
 			status.SyncServiceName = eaServiceName
-			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 				return errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -257,10 +257,10 @@ func (r *Resources) EnsureServices(ctx context.Context, cachedStatus inspectorIn
 			log.Err(err).Debug("Failed to create %s exporter service", name)
 			return errors.WithStack(err)
 		}
-		status, lastVersion := r.context.GetStatus()
+		status := r.context.GetStatus()
 		if status.ExporterServiceName != name {
 			status.ExporterServiceName = name
-			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status, lastVersion); err != nil {
+			if err := r.context.UpdateStatus(ctx, status); err != nil {
 				return errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/server_api.go b/pkg/deployment/server_api.go
index f015f7d7a..fbe44a56d 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/server_api.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/server_api.go
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ import (
 
 // Name returns the name of the deployment.
 func (d *Deployment) Name() string {
-	return d.apiObject.Name
+	return d.currentObject.Name
 }
 
 // Namespace returns the namespace that contains the deployment.
 func (d *Deployment) Namespace() string {
-	return d.apiObject.Namespace
+	return d.currentObject.Namespace
 }
 
 // GetMode returns the mode of the deployment.
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) StateColor() server.StateColor {
 	if d.VolumeCount() != d.ReadyVolumeCount() {
 		allGood = false
 	}
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	for _, m := range status.Members.AsList() {
 		switch m.Member.Phase {
 		case api.MemberPhaseFailed:
@@ -91,14 +91,14 @@ func (d *Deployment) StateColor() server.StateColor {
 
 // PodCount returns the number of pods for the deployment
 func (d *Deployment) PodCount() int {
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	return len(status.Members.PodNames())
 }
 
 // ReadyPodCount returns the number of pods for the deployment that are in ready state
 func (d *Deployment) ReadyPodCount() int {
 	count := 0
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	for _, e := range status.Members.AsList() {
 		if e.Member.Pod.GetName() == "" {
 			continue
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) ReadyPodCount() int {
 // VolumeCount returns the number of volumes for the deployment
 func (d *Deployment) VolumeCount() int {
 	count := 0
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	for _, e := range status.Members.AsList() {
 		if e.Member.PersistentVolumeClaimName != "" {
 			count++
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) VolumeCount() int {
 // ReadyVolumeCount returns the number of volumes for the deployment that are in ready state
 func (d *Deployment) ReadyVolumeCount() int {
 	count := 0
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	pvcs, _ := d.GetOwnedPVCs() // Ignore errors on purpose
 	for _, e := range status.Members.AsList() {
 		if e.Member.PersistentVolumeClaimName == "" {
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) DatabaseURL() string {
 // DatabaseVersion returns the version used by the deployment
 // Returns versionNumber, licenseType
 func (d *Deployment) DatabaseVersion() (string, string) {
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 	if current := status.CurrentImage; current != nil {
 		return string(current.ArangoDBVersion), memberState.GetImageLicense(status.CurrentImage)
 	}
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) DatabaseVersion() (string, string) {
 // Members returns all members of the deployment by role.
 func (d *Deployment) Members() map[api.ServerGroup][]server.Member {
 	result := make(map[api.ServerGroup][]server.Member)
-	status, _ := d.GetStatus()
+	status := d.GetStatus()
 
 	for _, group := range api.AllServerGroups {
 		list := status.Members.MembersOfGroup(group)
diff --git a/pkg/deployment/server_member_api.go b/pkg/deployment/server_member_api.go
index aac12e476..87d1930ed 100644
--- a/pkg/deployment/server_member_api.go
+++ b/pkg/deployment/server_member_api.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type member struct {
 }
 
 func (m member) status() (api.MemberStatus, bool) {
-	status, _ := m.d.GetStatus()
+	status := m.d.GetStatus()
 	result, _, found := status.Members.ElementByID(m.id)
 	return result, found
 }
diff --git a/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.go b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ddc3d944
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//
+// DISCLAIMER
+//
+// Copyright 2016-2022 ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+// Copyright holder is ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+
+package metric_descriptions
+
+import "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/metrics"
+
+var (
+	arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAccepted = metrics.NewDescription("arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_accepted", "Defines if ArangoDeployment has been accepted", []string{`namespace`, `name`}, nil)
+)
+
+func init() {
+	registerDescription(arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAccepted)
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAccepted() metrics.Description {
+	return arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAccepted
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAcceptedGauge(value float64, namespace string, name string) metrics.Metric {
+	return ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentAccepted().Gauge(value, namespace, name)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.go b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f47d0967e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//
+// DISCLAIMER
+//
+// Copyright 2016-2022 ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+// Copyright holder is ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+
+package metric_descriptions
+
+import "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/metrics"
+
+var (
+	arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrors = metrics.NewDescription("arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_immutable_errors", "Counter for deployment immutable errors", []string{`namespace`, `name`}, nil)
+)
+
+func init() {
+	registerDescription(arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrors)
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrors() metrics.Description {
+	return arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrors
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrorsCounter(value float64, namespace string, name string) metrics.Metric {
+	return ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentImmutableErrors().Gauge(value, namespace, name)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.go b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..570d4e34f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//
+// DISCLAIMER
+//
+// Copyright 2016-2022 ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+// Copyright holder is ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+
+package metric_descriptions
+
+import "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/metrics"
+
+var (
+	arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodate = metrics.NewDescription("arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_uptodate", "Defines if ArangoDeployment is uptodate", []string{`namespace`, `name`}, nil)
+)
+
+func init() {
+	registerDescription(arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodate)
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodate() metrics.Description {
+	return arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodate
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodateGauge(value float64, namespace string, name string) metrics.Metric {
+	return ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentUptodate().Gauge(value, namespace, name)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.go b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2775efce1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/generated/metric_descriptions/arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+//
+// DISCLAIMER
+//
+// Copyright 2016-2022 ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+// Copyright holder is ArangoDB GmbH, Cologne, Germany
+//
+
+package metric_descriptions
+
+import "github.com/arangodb/kube-arangodb/pkg/util/metrics"
+
+var (
+	arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrors = metrics.NewDescription("arangodb_operator_resources_arangodeployment_validation_errors", "Counter for deployment validation errors", []string{`namespace`, `name`}, nil)
+)
+
+func init() {
+	registerDescription(arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrors)
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrors() metrics.Description {
+	return arangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrors
+}
+
+func ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrorsCounter(value float64, namespace string, name string) metrics.Metric {
+	return ArangodbOperatorResourcesArangodeploymentValidationErrors().Gauge(value, namespace, name)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/replication/deployment_replication.go b/pkg/replication/deployment_replication.go
index 9f4e8aff3..d4110ab64 100644
--- a/pkg/replication/deployment_replication.go
+++ b/pkg/replication/deployment_replication.go
@@ -284,9 +284,9 @@ func (dr *DeploymentReplication) updateCRStatus() error {
 	}
 }
 
-// Update the spec part of the API object (d.apiObject)
+// Update the spec part of the API object (d.currentObject)
 // to the given object, while preserving the status.
-// On success, d.apiObject is updated.
+// On success, d.currentObject is updated.
 func (dr *DeploymentReplication) updateCRSpec(newSpec api.DeploymentReplicationSpec) error {
 	log := dr.log
 	repls := dr.deps.Client.Arango().ReplicationV1().ArangoDeploymentReplications(dr.apiObject.GetNamespace())
diff --git a/pkg/storage/local_storage.go b/pkg/storage/local_storage.go
index 99183112c..c1be311e1 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/local_storage.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/local_storage.go
@@ -382,9 +382,9 @@ func (ls *LocalStorage) updateCRStatus() error {
 	}
 }
 
-// Update the spec part of the API object (d.apiObject)
+// Update the spec part of the API object (d.currentObject)
 // to the given object, while preserving the status.
-// On success, d.apiObject is updated.
+// On success, d.currentObject is updated.
 func (ls *LocalStorage) updateCRSpec(newSpec api.LocalStorageSpec) error {
 	// Send update to API server
 	update := ls.apiObject.DeepCopy()
diff --git a/pkg/util/arangod/client.go b/pkg/util/arangod/client.go
index 0bdeecafe..9c6faace0 100644
--- a/pkg/util/arangod/client.go
+++ b/pkg/util/arangod/client.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ var (
 // CreateArangodClient creates a go-driver client for a specific member in the given group.
 func CreateArangodClient(ctx context.Context, cli typedCore.CoreV1Interface, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment, group api.ServerGroup, id string) (driver.Client, error) {
 	// Create connection
-	dnsName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSNameWithDomain(apiObject, apiObject.Spec.ClusterDomain, group.AsRole(), id)
+	dnsName := k8sutil.CreatePodDNSNameWithDomain(apiObject, apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().ClusterDomain, group.AsRole(), id)
 	c, err := createArangodClientForDNSName(ctx, cli, apiObject, dnsName, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func CreateArangodClient(ctx context.Context, cli typedCore.CoreV1Interface, api
 // CreateArangodDatabaseClient creates a go-driver client for accessing the entire cluster (or single server).
 func CreateArangodDatabaseClient(ctx context.Context, cli typedCore.CoreV1Interface, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment, shortTimeout bool) (driver.Client, error) {
 	// Create connection
-	dnsName := k8sutil.CreateDatabaseClientServiceDNSNameWithDomain(apiObject, apiObject.Spec.ClusterDomain)
+	dnsName := k8sutil.CreateDatabaseClientServiceDNSNameWithDomain(apiObject, apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().ClusterDomain)
 	c, err := createArangodClientForDNSName(ctx, cli, apiObject, dnsName, shortTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func createArangodHTTPConfigForDNSNames(apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment, dnsName
 	if shortTimeout {
 		transport = sharedHTTPTransportShortTimeout
 	}
-	if apiObject != nil && apiObject.Spec.IsSecure() {
+	if apiObject != nil && apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().IsSecure() {
 		scheme = "https"
 		transport = sharedHTTPSTransport
 		if shortTimeout {
@@ -197,14 +197,14 @@ func createArangodHTTPConfigForDNSNames(apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment, dnsName
 
 // createArangodClientAuthentication creates a go-driver authentication for the servers in the given deployment.
 func createArangodClientAuthentication(ctx context.Context, cli typedCore.CoreV1Interface, apiObject *api.ArangoDeployment) (driver.Authentication, error) {
-	if apiObject != nil && apiObject.Spec.IsAuthenticated() {
+	if apiObject != nil && apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().IsAuthenticated() {
 		// Authentication is enabled.
 		// Should we skip using it?
 		if ctx.Value(skipAuthenticationKey{}) == nil {
 			secrets := cli.Secrets(apiObject.GetNamespace())
 			ctxChild, cancel := globals.GetGlobalTimeouts().Kubernetes().WithTimeout(ctx)
 			defer cancel()
-			s, err := k8sutil.GetTokenSecret(ctxChild, secrets, apiObject.Spec.Authentication.GetJWTSecretName())
+			s, err := k8sutil.GetTokenSecret(ctxChild, secrets, apiObject.GetAcceptedSpec().Authentication.GetJWTSecretName())
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, errors.WithStack(err)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/util/arangod/cluster.go b/pkg/util/arangod/cluster.go
index ce7bfebda..0c4b3f970 100644
--- a/pkg/util/arangod/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/util/arangod/cluster.go
@@ -93,6 +93,29 @@ func SetNumberOfServers(ctx context.Context, conn driver.Connection, noCoordinat
 	return nil
 }
 
+// CleanNumberOfServers removes the server count
+func CleanNumberOfServers(ctx context.Context, conn driver.Connection) error {
+	req, err := conn.NewRequest("PUT", "_admin/cluster/numberOfServers")
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+	input := map[string]interface{}{
+		"numberOfCoordinators": nil,
+		"numberOfDBServers":    nil,
+	}
+	if _, err := req.SetBody(input); err != nil {
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+	resp, err := conn.Do(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+	if err := resp.CheckStatus(200); err != nil {
+		return errors.WithStack(err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // RemoveServerFromCluster tries to remove a coordinator or DBServer from the cluster.
 func RemoveServerFromCluster(ctx context.Context, conn driver.Connection, id driver.ServerID) error {
 	req, err := conn.NewRequest("POST", "_admin/cluster/removeServer")