A relay apparatus for relaying a communication between a client and a server includes a determining unit that determines, when the server is to be switched to a standby server, whether connection in an application layer established between the server and the client can be maintained, without depending on an application; and an executing unit that executes a process depending on a result of determination by the determining unit. The process includes a maintaining process for maintaining the connection when the determining unit determines that the connection can be maintained; and a disconnecting process for disconnecting the connection when the determining unit determines that the connection cannot be maintained.