diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-bitbucket/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-bitbucket/src/implementation.ts
index 4cbf4b5d..2dfa2895 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-bitbucket/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-bitbucket/src/implementation.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,15 @@ import { GitLfsClient } from './git-lfs-client';
 
 const MAX_CONCURRENT_DOWNLOADS = 10;
 
+const STATUS_PAGE = 'https://bitbucket.status.atlassian.com';
+const BITBUCKET_STATUS_ENDPOINT = `${STATUS_PAGE}/api/v2/components.json`;
+const BITBUCKET_OPERATIONAL_UNITS = ['API', 'Authentication and user management', 'Git LFS'];
+type BitbucketStatusComponent = {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  status: string;
+};
+
 // Implementation wrapper class
 export default class BitbucketBackend implements Implementation {
   lock: AsyncLock;
@@ -114,16 +123,36 @@ export default class BitbucketBackend implements Implementation {
   }
 
   async status() {
-    const auth =
-      (await this.api
-        ?.user()
-        .then(user => !!user)
-        .catch(e => {
-          console.warn('Failed getting Bitbucket user', e);
-          return false;
-        })) || false;
+    const api = await fetch(BITBUCKET_STATUS_ENDPOINT)
+      .then(res => res.json())
+      .then(res => {
+        return res['components']
+          .filter((statusComponent: BitbucketStatusComponent) =>
+            BITBUCKET_OPERATIONAL_UNITS.includes(statusComponent.name),
+          )
+          .every(
+            (statusComponent: BitbucketStatusComponent) => statusComponent.status === 'operational',
+          );
+      })
+      .catch(e => {
+        console.warn('Failed getting BitBucket status', e);
+        return true;
+      });
 
-    return { auth };
+    let auth = false;
+    // no need to check auth if api is down
+    if (api) {
+      auth =
+        (await this.api
+          ?.user()
+          .then(user => !!user)
+          .catch(e => {
+            console.warn('Failed getting Bitbucket user', e);
+            return false;
+          })) || false;
+    }
+
+    return { auth: { status: auth }, api: { status: api, statusPage: STATUS_PAGE } };
   }
 
   authComponent() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-git-gateway/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-git-gateway/src/implementation.ts
index 7fbbdac8..62afbb56 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-git-gateway/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-git-gateway/src/implementation.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,15 @@ import GitLabAPI from './GitLabAPI';
 import AuthenticationPage from './AuthenticationPage';
 import { getClient, Client } from './netlify-lfs-client';
 
+const STATUS_PAGE = 'https://www.netlifystatus.com';
+const GIT_GATEWAY_STATUS_ENDPOINT = `${STATUS_PAGE}/api/v2/components.json`;
+const GIT_GATEWAY_OPERATIONAL_UNITS = ['Git Gateway'];
+type GitGatewayStatus = {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  status: string;
+};
+
 type NetlifyIdentity = {
   logout: () => void;
   currentUser: () => User;
@@ -179,15 +188,33 @@ export default class GitGateway implements Implementation {
   }
 
   async status() {
-    const auth =
-      (await this.tokenPromise?.()
-        .then(token => !!token)
-        .catch(e => {
-          console.warn('Failed getting Identity token', e);
-          return false;
-        })) || false;
+    const api = await fetch(GIT_GATEWAY_STATUS_ENDPOINT)
+      .then(res => res.json())
+      .then(res => {
+        return res['components']
+          .filter((statusComponent: GitGatewayStatus) =>
+            GIT_GATEWAY_OPERATIONAL_UNITS.includes(statusComponent.name),
+          )
+          .every((statusComponent: GitGatewayStatus) => statusComponent.status === 'operational');
+      })
+      .catch(e => {
+        console.warn('Failed getting Git Gateway status', e);
+        return true;
+      });
 
-    return { auth };
+    let auth = false;
+    // no need to check auth if api is down
+    if (api) {
+      auth =
+        (await this.tokenPromise?.()
+          .then(token => !!token)
+          .catch(e => {
+            console.warn('Failed getting Identity token', e);
+            return false;
+          })) || false;
+    }
+
+    return { auth: { status: auth }, api: { status: api, statusPage: STATUS_PAGE } };
   }
 
   async getAuthClient() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-github/src/implementation.tsx b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-github/src/implementation.tsx
index a2d4d55b..c8d5d901 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-github/src/implementation.tsx
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-github/src/implementation.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ type ApiFile = { id: string; type: string; name: string; path: string; size: num
 
 const { fetchWithTimeout: fetch } = unsentRequest;
 
+const STATUS_PAGE = 'https://www.githubstatus.com';
+const GITHUB_STATUS_ENDPOINT = `${STATUS_PAGE}/api/v2/components.json`;
+const GITHUB_OPERATIONAL_UNITS = ['API Requests', 'Issues, Pull Requests, Projects'];
+type GitHubStatusComponent = {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  status: string;
+};
+
 export default class GitHub implements Implementation {
   lock: AsyncLock;
   api: API | null;
@@ -112,16 +121,36 @@ export default class GitHub implements Implementation {
   }
 
   async status() {
-    const auth =
-      (await this.api
-        ?.getUser()
-        .then(user => !!user)
-        .catch(e => {
-          console.warn('Failed getting GitHub user', e);
-          return false;
-        })) || false;
+    const api = await fetch(GITHUB_STATUS_ENDPOINT)
+      .then(res => res.json())
+      .then(res => {
+        return res['components']
+          .filter((statusComponent: GitHubStatusComponent) =>
+            GITHUB_OPERATIONAL_UNITS.includes(statusComponent.name),
+          )
+          .every(
+            (statusComponent: GitHubStatusComponent) => statusComponent.status === 'operational',
+          );
+      })
+      .catch(e => {
+        console.warn('Failed getting GitHub status', e);
+        return true;
+      });
 
-    return { auth };
+    let auth = false;
+    // no need to check auth if api is down
+    if (api) {
+      auth =
+        (await this.api
+          ?.getUser()
+          .then(user => !!user)
+          .catch(e => {
+            console.warn('Failed getting GitHub user', e);
+            return false;
+          })) || false;
+    }
+
+    return { auth: { status: auth }, api: { status: api, statusPage: STATUS_PAGE } };
   }
 
   authComponent() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-gitlab/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-gitlab/src/implementation.ts
index 16fe56fe..9972b4f4 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-gitlab/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-gitlab/src/implementation.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export default class GitLab implements Implementation {
           return false;
         })) || false;
 
-    return { auth };
+    return { auth: { status: auth }, api: { status: true, statusPage: '' } };
   }
 
   authComponent() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-proxy/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-proxy/src/implementation.ts
index 1eba44fd..36beb15f 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-proxy/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-proxy/src/implementation.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export default class ProxyBackend implements Implementation {
   }
 
   status() {
-    return Promise.resolve({ auth: true });
+    return Promise.resolve({ auth: { status: true }, api: { status: true, statusPage: '' } });
   }
 
   authComponent() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-test/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-test/src/implementation.ts
index de7e2535..c56ad08f 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-backend-test/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-backend-test/src/implementation.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export default class TestBackend implements Implementation {
   }
 
   status() {
-    return Promise.resolve({ auth: true });
+    return Promise.resolve({ auth: { status: true }, api: { status: true, statusPage: '' } });
   }
 
   authComponent() {
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/status.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/status.ts
index 11a2f1ed..72294d28 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/status.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/status.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { ThunkDispatch } from 'redux-thunk';
 import { AnyAction } from 'redux';
 import { actions as notifActions } from 'redux-notifications';
 
-const { notifSend } = notifActions;
+const { notifSend, notifDismiss } = notifActions;
 
 export const STATUS_REQUEST = 'STATUS_REQUEST';
 export const STATUS_SUCCESS = 'STATUS_SUCCESS';
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ export function statusRequest() {
   };
 }
 
-export function statusSuccess(status: { auth: boolean }) {
+export function statusSuccess(status: {
+  auth: { status: boolean };
+  api: { status: boolean; statusPage: string };
+}) {
   return {
     type: STATUS_SUCCESS,
     payload: { status },
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ export function statusSuccess(status: { auth: boolean }) {
 export function statusFailure(error: Error) {
   return {
     type: STATUS_FAILURE,
-    error,
+    payload: { error },
   };
 }
 
@@ -42,7 +45,30 @@ export function checkBackendStatus() {
       const backend = currentBackend(state.config);
       const status = await backend.status();
 
-      const authError = status.auth === false;
+      const backendDownKey = 'ui.toast.onBackendDown';
+      const previousBackendDownNotifs = state.notifs.filter(n => n.message?.key === backendDownKey);
+
+      if (status.api.status === false) {
+        if (previousBackendDownNotifs.length === 0) {
+          dispatch(
+            notifSend({
+              message: {
+                details: status.api.statusPage,
+                key: 'ui.toast.onBackendDown',
+              },
+              kind: 'danger',
+            }),
+          );
+        }
+        return dispatch(statusSuccess(status));
+      } else if (status.api.status === true && previousBackendDownNotifs.length > 0) {
+        // If backend is up, clear all the danger messages
+        previousBackendDownNotifs.forEach(notif => {
+          dispatch(notifDismiss(notif.id));
+        });
+      }
+
+      const authError = status.auth.status === false;
       if (authError) {
         const key = 'ui.toast.onLoggedOut';
         const existingNotification = state.notifs.find(n => n.message?.key === key);
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/backend.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/backend.ts
index f2b895d4..aec699ff 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/backend.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/backend.ts
@@ -181,11 +181,17 @@ export class Backend {
 
   async status() {
     const attempts = 3;
-    let status: { auth: boolean } = { auth: false };
+    let status: {
+      auth: { status: boolean };
+      api: { status: boolean; statusPage: string };
+    } = {
+      auth: { status: false },
+      api: { status: false, statusPage: '' },
+    };
     for (let i = 1; i <= attempts; i++) {
       status = await this.implementation!.status();
       // return on first success
-      if (Object.values(status).every(s => s === true)) {
+      if (Object.values(status).every(s => s.status === true)) {
         return status;
       } else {
         await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, i * 1000));
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/reducers/status.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/reducers/status.ts
index 336499bd..a1ff1d3b 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/reducers/status.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/reducers/status.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ import { AnyAction } from 'redux';
 import { STATUS_REQUEST, STATUS_SUCCESS, STATUS_FAILURE } from '../actions/status';
 import { Status } from '../types/redux';
 
-export interface EntriesAction extends AnyAction {
-  payload: { status: { auth: boolean }; error?: Error };
+interface StatusAction extends AnyAction {
+  payload: {
+    status: { auth: { status: boolean }; api: { status: boolean; statusPage: string } };
+    error?: Error;
+  };
 }
 
-const status = (state = Map(), action: EntriesAction) => {
+const status = (state = Map(), action: StatusAction) => {
   switch (action.type) {
     case STATUS_REQUEST:
       return state.set('isFetching', true);
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/implementation.ts b/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/implementation.ts
index 1fb48d83..ba1482df 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/implementation.ts
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/implementation.ts
@@ -141,7 +141,10 @@ export interface Implementation {
   ) => Promise<{ entries: ImplementationEntry[]; cursor: Cursor }>;
 
   isGitBackend?: () => boolean;
-  status: () => Promise<{ auth: boolean }>;
+  status: () => Promise<{
+    auth: { status: boolean };
+    api: { status: boolean; statusPage: string };
+  }>;
 }
 
 const MAX_CONCURRENT_DOWNLOADS = 10;
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/unsentRequest.js b/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/unsentRequest.js
index 8a0ef517..3daa50ef 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/unsentRequest.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-lib-util/src/unsentRequest.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const isAbortControllerSupported = () => {
 
 const timeout = 60;
 const fetchWithTimeout = (input, init) => {
-  if (init.signal || !isAbortControllerSupported()) {
+  if ((init && init.signal) || !isAbortControllerSupported()) {
     return fetch(input, init);
   }
   const controller = new AbortController();
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-locales/src/en/index.js b/packages/netlify-cms-locales/src/en/index.js
index 4eab2bd4..342ca833 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-locales/src/en/index.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-locales/src/en/index.js
@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ const en = {
       onDeleteUnpublishedChanges: 'Unpublished changes deleted',
       onFailToAuth: '%{details}',
       onLoggedOut: 'You have been logged out, please back up any data and login again',
+      onBackendDown:
+        'The backend service is experiencing an outage. See %{details} for more information',
     },
   },
   workflow: {