An intent maintenance method and an apparatus provides a status awareness module that obtains a first duration corresponding to an intent. The status awareness module receives from a policy management module first information indicating that a first executable command corresponding to the intent starts to be executed. The status awareness module determines second duration when execution duration of the first executable command reaches the first duration and an object of the intent is not achieved, the second duration being greater than the first duration, and sends second information to the policy management module.